In the midst of a growing wave of Democratic lawmakers urging President Joe Biden to abandon his 2024 reelection bid, Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC), a staunch Biden ally, has reaffirmed his unwavering support for the President.
Clyburn, who is widely recognized for his pivotal endorsement that propelled Biden's 2020 Democratic primary campaign, stated that his stance would only shift if Biden himself chose to withdraw.
According to Mediaite, Clyburn's comments were made during a conversation with CNN's Jake Tapper. The discussion took place against a backdrop of mounting pressure on Biden from within his own party. Tapper highlighted this, stating, "We're at a real moment of crisis for the Democratic Party. We're approaching 40 members of the House and Senate who have called on President Biden to step aside."
Tapper further underscored the gravity of the situation by referencing Sen. Joe Manchin's (I-WV) recent call for Biden to suspend his campaign. He posed a pointed question to Clyburn, asking, "Is it in the best interest of the Democratic Party for President Biden to remain the Democratic presidential nominee?"
In response, Clyburn drew attention to the Democratic primary, which Biden had won convincingly. He argued that the voters had already made their choice regarding the nominee. Clyburn stated, "Joe Biden has been through a process along with Kamala Harris and they have received over 14 million votes to be our standard bearers. Thats where we are, theres a process in place. Its been in place since the spring of the year."
Clyburn further emphasized the importance of adhering to the established process, asserting that it would lead to a unified party at the convention. He declared his support for Biden, stating, "I support Joe Biden. He is still in this race. He will be our nominee. If he stays in the race, and I think all of us to look for ways to coalesce around that candidacy."
Despite the growing chorus of Democrats expressing concerns about Biden's mental acuity and electability, Clyburn remained steadfast. He stated, "It will take [Biden] changing his mind. And if he were to change his mind, then I will change mine. But until that time, we as Democrats should honor this process and should do what is necessary to preserve our democratic principles."
When Tapper reiterated his question about whether Biden's continued candidacy was in the best interest of the Democratic Party, Clyburn responded, "It is always in the best interest of the Democratic Party to follow the rules." This statement underscores Clyburn's belief in the importance of process and unity within the party, even in the face of internal dissent.
Login