In the wake of President Joe Biden's less than stellar performance in last week's debate, Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia, who has been a vocal critic of the President, was reportedly on the brink of publicly urging Biden to step down.
However, top-ranking Democrats intervened, preventing Manchin from making such a statement on national television.
According to The Independent, Manchin, who distanced himself from the Democratic party in May but continues to caucus with them, expressed increasing doubts about Biden's capacity to lead the nation. His concerns were amplified by Biden's debate debacle against Donald Trump, during which the President blamed his faltering cognitive ability on jet lag.
Manchin had reportedly informed key allies of his intention to call for the President's resignation during a scheduled appearance on a national news program. However, his plans were thwarted when senior Democrats, alerted to his intentions, launched a concerted effort to dissuade him from criticizing the President publicly. Among those who reportedly reached out to Manchin was Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.
Manchin's senior political adviser, Jonathan Kott, confirmed the senator's commitment to open dialogue and independent thought. "Joe Manchin talks to lots of people because he wants to get different views and political perspectives," Kott said. "When he has something to say, you'll hear it directly from him, and trust me, there's nobody that can talk him out of speaking his mind."
Had senior party members not intervened, Manchin might have been the first elected official to call for Biden to step aside and allow another Democrat to run for the ticket. Instead, that distinction went to Representative Lloyd Doggett of Texas, who urged Biden to make the "painful and difficult decision to withdraw."
The incident underscores the growing division within the Democratic party over whether the 81-year-old incumbent President should continue his re-election bid. "We are deeply concerned about his trajectory and his ability to win. We want to give him space to make a decision [to step aside], but we will be increasingly vocal about our concerns if he doesn't," one Democrat told CNN.
As the debate over his political future continues, Biden is scheduled to meet with Democratic governors and congressional leaders. These meetings will likely be a crucial barometer of the President's standing within his own party and his prospects for the 2024 election.
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