WASHINGTON – A House Democratic lawmaker has become the party’s first to publicly call for President Joe Biden resign as Democratic presidential candidate, citing Biden’s debate performance against Donald Trump, who failed to “effectively defend his many accomplishments.”
Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas said in a statement Tuesday that Biden should “make the painful and difficult decision to withdraw.”
“My decision to make these strong reservations public was not taken lightly nor does it in any way diminish my respect for all that President Biden has achieved,” Doggett said. “Recognizing that, unlike Trump, President Biden’s first commitment has always been to our country, and not to himself, I am hopeful that he will make the painful and difficult decision to withdraw. I respectfully ask that he do so.”
Doggett, who represents an Austin-based district and is serving his 15th term in Congress, is the first sitting lawmaker in his party to publicly state what many have been whispering privately behind closed doors since last week’s debate. Biden’s poor performance caused an immediate panic among even his most ardent supporters, leading many to question whether the 81-year-old career politician is the strongest Democratic candidate to face Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, in November.
In addition to the White House, control of both chambers of Congress is also at stake in November, and Democrats find themselves defending many more Senate seats than Republicans.
Doggett’s explosive statement came minutes after former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., told MSNBC on Tuesday that she believes “it’s a legitimate question” whether the disruption to Biden’s performance is just ” an episode or is a condition”.
“When people ask that question, it’s a legitimate one — from both candidates,” Pelosi said.
Pelosi said she has not spoken to Biden since the debate, but emphasized that the president is “on top of his game as far as knowing the issues and what is at stake.”
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Associated Press writers Kevin Freking and Stephen Groves contributed to this report.
