- author, Madeleine Halpert & Brajesh Upadhyay
- role, BBC News, New York & Washington
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As Joe Biden took the stage at a rally in Detroit, Michigan, on Friday night, the raucous crowd at a U.S. presidential event in recent years chanted “Don’t quit!”
After securing the Democratic nomination, he vowed, “I’m running! And I’m going to win!” to deafening cheers from hundreds of his supporters.
The strains of Tom Petty’s hit “I Won’t Back Down” echoed through the high school gym as he left the stage, a tacit rejection of the growing list of elected officials from his party who have raised concerns about his age and urged him to step down.
But despite the high-profile nature of the latest politicians, donors and liberal activists turning their backs on Biden, the list of Democrats who support him is even longer.
At least 80 Democrats have publicly supported the 81-year-old Trump, with more joining in as he insists he’s not going anywhere.
For many, his political record, his beliefs and his victory over Donald Trump in 2020 mean more than the damage done by his incoherent debate and public performances or the fears of his health during another four years in office.
Biden held his first solo press conference of the year on Thursday, giving detailed answers about NATO and his plans for a second term, but drew many headlines for his gaffe in which he referred to Vice President Kamala Harris as “President Trump.”
For now, at least, allies praised the embattled commander in chief for his performance, which was watched live by more than 23 million people — more than this year’s Academy Awards ceremony.
“I think he’s really got a handle on foreign policy. Really great,” North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper told reporters on Friday. “I don’t think Donald Trump can talk coherently for one minute about foreign policy.”
California Governor Gavin Newsom, the leading candidate to succeed him, told CBS he had his “full support” for Biden, adding that there was “no divide” between the two.
Rep. Brendan Boyle of Pennsylvania said Biden has “demonstrated he knows a million times more about policy” than Trump, a “serious con man.”
Experts say there are many reasons why these politicians are backing Biden, including his record in office, his victory over Trump in 2020 and the gamble of fielding a new candidate so close to the November election.
“The president has made it very clear that he intends to continue running, and I think the public is very respectful of that,” said Simon Rosenberg, a Democratic strategist.
“It’s also true that in our system, replacing a presidential candidate this late would be difficult and unprecedented, so there’s a great deal of hesitancy to make any major changes.”
He added that there had been a “healthy debate” about who should be the nominee.
But various groups, including the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, a group of about 40 senators, and the Congressional Black Caucus, a group of 60 senators that Biden met with earlier this week, have said the nominee should be Biden.
Amecia Cross, a former campaign adviser to former President Barack Obama, said the Congressional Black Caucus and many black voters see Biden as a president committed to civil rights, unlike his rival Trump.
“They understand what’s at stake if Donald J. Trump becomes president,” she said, “because he’s someone who has opposed DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) efforts.”
Biden has received public support from several politicians on the left, including New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who have previously criticized Biden for being too moderate in his policies.
Cross said many people recognize the risks a Trump presidency poses to civil rights, LGBTQ rights and climate change.
“These are issues that are important to the progressive left, and the president has really addressed them,” she said.
So far, most of Biden’s support has come from politicians seeking reelection in districts Democrats are sure to win, rather than from those who worry Biden will hurt their electoral chances in tougher districts.
Rosenberg said the White House “needs to respect their concerns and address them in a more proactive manner.”
Amid growing calls for Biden to drop out of the race, the latest polls seem to suggest he is not losing much support among voters.
The Biden campaign has touted a Washington Post/ABC News/Ipsos poll released this week that showed Biden and Trump in a close race, similar to pre-debate polling, but also found that two-thirds of Americans want Biden to step down.
The president has also lost support from Hollywood’s elite. Actress Ashley Judd called on Biden to step down in a USA Today op-ed on Friday, saying the Democratic Party needs a “strong” candidate. Her piece came after George Clooney penned an even more scathing opinion piece about Biden this week.
Whitney Tilson, a longtime Democratic donor, is the latest fundraiser to halt fundraising efforts, telling the BBC on Friday that she is increasingly convinced Biden will step down. Other Democratic donors have told pro-Biden fundraising group Future Forward that they are withholding around $90 million (£69 million) worth of donations until Biden leaves office, according to The New York Times.
However, other major donors continue to support the president.
Image source, Getty Images
Shekhar Narasimhan, who has organized Democratic fundraisers for more than 20 years, said there are no changes to the plan.
“Our eyes are seeing what’s going on and our ears are listening to what’s being talked about, but we keep our heads down to get the job done,” said Narsimhan, founder of the Asian American Pacific Islander Victory Fund super PAC.
“It’s the president’s decision whether or not he runs and we will abide by his decision,” he said, “but it’s best to end this debate as soon as possible.”
He said he supports Biden because he believes he will win.
“This election will be decided by less than 50,000 votes combined in three states – Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin – and we have the work and the infrastructure to win there,” he said.
State Finance Commissioner Frank Islam said he plans to hold a fundraiser at his Maryland home later this month. [Mr Biden] We will win,” he said.
