President Joe Biden and his family gathered at Camp David over the weekend, grappling with the fallout from last week's debate performance against former President Donald J. Trump. Despite growing concerns within the Democratic Party, Biden's family is urging him to stay in the race and continue fighting, according to sources close to the situation who spoke to The New York Times.
The president is now tasked with reassuring anxious Democrats and demonstrating his ability to serve another four years. His son, Hunter Biden, has emerged as one of the strongest voices encouraging the president to resist calls to drop out of the race.
"The entire family is united," said one person familiar with the discussions, speaking on condition of anonymity. "You get up and keep fighting," they added, emphasizing that the president has not considered leaving the race.
While the Biden family remains supportive, some members have privately expressed frustration with the debate preparation process, questioning the strategies employed by key advisers. This sentiment was echoed publicly by John Morgan, a top Democratic donor, who criticized the president's debate team, including Ron Klain, Anita Dunn, and Bob Bauer.
"It would be like if you took a prizefighter who was going to have a title fight and put him in a sauna for 15 hours then said, 'Go fight,'" Morgan told the New York Times, placing blame on the advisers for what he termed "political malpractice."
However, sources close to the president and First Lady Jill Biden maintain that the couple continues to trust their team. Ron Klain, former White House chief of staff, defended the president's position, stating, "He is the choice of the Democratic voters. We are seeing record levels of support from grass-roots donors. We had a bad debate night. But you win campaigns by fighting – not quitting – in the face of adversity."
As the Biden campaign works to calm nerves and reassess strategy, a conference call with the national finance committee is scheduled for Monday. The president's public schedule for the coming week includes visits to an emergency operations center, a Medal of Honor ceremony, and a Fourth of July barbecue for military service members.
Despite the current challenges, Democratic allies continue to publicly support the president. Senator Raphael Warnock of Georgia and Governor Wes Moore of Maryland both defended Biden on Sunday talk shows, highlighting his accomplishments and character.
However, a recent CBS News poll revealed that 45% of Democrats want a different candidate to face Trump, and only 27% of overall voters believe Biden has the mental and cognitive health to serve as president.
As the Biden family navigates this crucial period, the president's next moves will be closely watched. Whether through press conferences, interviews, or other public appearances, Biden faces the task of changing the narrative and reaffirming his capability to lead the nation for another term.
