This follows a string of Democratic Party leaders estimated to be around 20 calling for Biden, 81, to quit his campaign….reports Asian Lite News
Former President Barack Obama has now joined a bandwagon of those who have voiced their concerns about Joe Biden’s campaign to return as the American President.
Obama told allies that in recent days, US President Biden’s path to victory has greatly diminished, and he thinks the leader needs to seriously consider the viability of his candidacy, the Washington Post reported on Thursday.
The report also quotes sources who said that Obama has mentioned in some of his conversations that he is concerned that the polls are moving away from Biden, expanding a wider path of victory for Republican candidate Donald Trump in the November 5 election.
This follows a string of Democratic Party leaders estimated to be around 20 calling for Biden, 81, to quit his campaign.
CNN reported that former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told Biden in a private conversation that she was pessimistic about his chances of defeating Trump.
White House spokesperson Andrew Bates was cited in the same CNN report as saying that “President Biden is the nominee of the party. He plans to win and looks forward to working with congressional Democrats to pass his 100-day agenda to help working families.”
Earlier this week, senior House Democrat Adam Schiff of California, who is running for Senate, said that Biden should end his campaign.
Schiff said in a statement to the Los Angeles Times on Wednesday that he has “serious concerns” about whether Biden can defeat Republican challenger Trump, the New York Times reported.
Previously, as per the NYT, Schiff in a private meeting with donors, said that if Biden remained the party’s nominee, Democrats were likely to lose not only the White House but also down-ballot races.
His public statement on Wednesday followed the assassination attempt on Trump.
Schiff, however, said that he would support the Democratic ticket, even if Biden stayed at the top, but said he believed it would be better for Biden to “pass the torch.”
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Majority Leader Charles E Schumer have both spoken directly with Biden in the past week, warning about the widely held concerns that his candidacy could hurt the chances for the Democratic Party.
Actor George Clooney wrote an op-ed in the New York Times that called on Biden to drop out of the presidential race.
Meanwhile, Biden announced that he had tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday and is quarantining in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.
Biden’s principal deputy campaign manager, Quentin Fulks, was cited by the Washington Post on Thursday morning as saying that Biden’s campaign was moving ahead.
“The president has made his decision. I don’t want to be rude, but I don’t know how many more times we can answer that,” he said. (ANI)
Biden experiencing mild upper respiratory symptoms
President Joe Biden is experiencing “mild upper respiratory symptoms” related to the COVID-19 infection and continues to receive Paxlovid according to Biden’s physician the White House stated.
Biden’s physician, Dr Kevin O’Connor, said that US President does not have a fever and that his vital signs remain normal.
According to the statement released by White House on X, Dr Kevin O’Connor said, “The President is still experiencing mild upper respiratory symptoms associated with his recent COVID-19 infection. He continues to receive Paxlovid. He does not have a fever and his vital signs remain normal. He will continue to conduct the business of the American people.
“With the President’s permission, I will continue to provide regular updates, as we have done before,” he added.
Biden, 81, tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday, a day after he attended the NAACP National Convention in Las Vegas, where he strongly criticised Donald Trump’s policies and also condemned the increase in gun violence in the nation.
“He (Biden) will be returning to Delaware where he will self-isolate and will continue to carry out all of his duties fully during that time,” the White House said in its official release on Wednesday (local time).
The US President is vaccinated and has also had COVID-19 vaccine booster shots, the most recent being in September 2023, the WH said.Before departing Las Vegas, Biden assured reporters that he felt fine, and he was seen boarding Air Force One without wearing a mask.
After testing positive, Biden, in a post on X, said, “I tested positive for COVID-19 this afternoon, but I am feeling good and thank everyone for the well wishes.”
“I will be isolating as I recover, and during this time I will continue to work to get the job done for the American people,” he added.The President’s doctor revealed that Biden had upper respiratory symptoms, including rhinorrhea (runny nose) and non-productive cough, with general malaise.”
He (Biden) felt okay for his first event of the day, but given that he was not feeling better, point-of-care testing for COVID-19 was conducted, and the results were positive for the COVID-19 virus. Given this, the President will be self-isolating in accordance with CDC guidance for symptomatic individuals. PCR confirmation testing will be pending,” a note from his doctor provided by White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre read.
He will be self-isolating at his home in Rehoboth, it said.”His symptoms remain mild, his respiratory rate is normal at 16, his temperature is normal at 97.8 and his pulse oximetry is normal at 97 per cent,” the White House added.
Earlier in July 2022 Biden tested positive for Covid for the first time. Also, in the following days, he had a rebound infection, which resulted in isolation for a second time for the US President. (ANI)