Staff Reports
House Democrats are apparently having a collective panic attack over Joe Biden’s shot at reelection. A letter circulating among them shows they’re wary about rallying behind Biden just yet, especially with plans for a virtual roll call vote on the horizon. It seems some Democrats are balking at the idea of fast-tracking the nomination without any meaningful debate—a maneuver that could backfire by sowing discord within their ranks.
Biden, undeterred, keeps pushing his campaign in Nevada, determined to grab a second term. But let’s be honest, his performance during the debates against Trump was less than stellar, and it’s making some Democrats quietly question whether he’s the right horse to bet on. Nearly 20 Democratic lawmakers have already whispered that Biden should bow out, though their public critiques have dried up after a recent assassination attempt against Trump grabbed headlines.
House Democrats want to stop early DNC effort to nominate Biden before party convention in August https://t.co/Mpn2wTM2s6
— On Line English (@OLE_Marjory) July 17, 2024
On Capitol Hill, there’s a noticeable divide among Democrats regarding Biden’s potential to carry his campaign all the way to another victory. The concern isn’t just losing the White House to Trump; they’re also sweating bullets over the possibility of handing over Congress to the GOP. The Democrats initially set up this early roll call to ensure Biden would be on the Ohio ballot before a specific deadline. But Ohio changed its rules, making the whole rush job irrelevant, as their own letter admits.
One of the main agitators is Rep. Jared Huffman of California. Huffman has been stirring the pot, including asking Biden if he’d sit down with Democrat stalwarts like former Presidents Clinton and Obama to discuss whether his campaign still has legs. Biden, doing his best to maintain a brave face, disagreed that his campaign was on the ropes, though Huffman’s social media said otherwise. He doesn’t expect Biden’s ears to open up anytime soon to dissenting voices within the party.
Huffman’s not the main name on this letter circulating among the Democrats. The lawmakers signing it are anonymous, presumably to avoid the wrath of party loyalists. Their opinions are all over the place—some think Biden should step aside, others want him to plow ahead, and a bunch are just wringing their hands without taking a definitive stance.
Meanwhile, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) hasn’t pinned down a date for this virtual roll call, though rumors are flying. The DNC’s convention committee is set to meet soon and might finally set a timeline. The whisperers behind the scenes think this virtual dog and pony show could start in late July and run for multiple days, but nothing’s set in stone.
Biden’s crew insists that the roll call has to be wrapped up by August 6 to meet the original Ohio deadline. The DNC Chair Jaime Harrison is downplaying rumors that the timeline’s been sped up. At a press conference, Biden’s deputy campaign manager Quentin Fulks insisted that sticking to the schedule is crucial, just in case Ohio’s GOP-controlled legislature decides to play games with the deadline again. However, Ohio’s secretary of state’s office shot back, saying it’s a non-issue and accusing Democrats of scapegoating the state for their own internal chaos.
As it stands, the left’s indecisiveness is playing right into the GOP’s hands. Whether or not they can get their act together before the roll call and the conventions remains to be seen. One thing’s for sure, their party unity looks shakier by the day.
