In a move reflecting the growing division within the Democratic Party, a group of seven Massachusetts state senators publicly called on President Joe Biden to bow out of the 2024 presidential race. According to a statement they released last night, as reported by Boston 25 News, the senators argue that Biden is "not capable" of vigorously campaigning or serving another four-year term. They express particular concern over the president's ability to effectively counter former President Donald Trump, his potential rival, who recently secured his third consecutive GOP presidential nomination.
Their statement emphasized the need to "inject badly needed excitement and grassroots energy" into the Democratic Party, which they believe could help to more effectively engage voters, especially young ones. The signatories include Sens. Jo Comerford, Jamie Eldridge, Paul Feeney, Pat Jehlen, John Keenan, Jason Lewis, and Michael Moore. Notably, Eldridge is also a Democratic National Convention delegate and Lewis had previously voiced his concerns, as outlined in an interview by The Boston Globe, regarding Biden's debate performance with Trump, describing it as tough to watch.
These state senators point to various polls suggesting Biden is lagging behind Trump in both national and battleground states. Furthermore, they note growing concern within the party that if Biden stays in the race, it could lead to a Republican sweep of both the White House and Congress—a scenario they describe as catastrophic for Massachusetts and the nation. Echoing their concerns, Governor Maura Healey, a steadfast Biden ally, suggested the president should carefully evaluate his position as the Democrats' best option to face Trump on November 5.
The senators' appeal does not endorse a specific alternative candidate, including Vice President Kamala Harris. Instead, they argue that making a switch at the upcoming Democratic National Convention, set to begin on August 19, 2024, would give the new nominee plenty of time to mount a successful campaign to defeat Trump. Their suggestion has raised potential challenges for state election officials, who would have to timely present new ballots to voters. The sufficiency of time left to accomplish such a feat remains a matter of debate among party officials and election coordinators.
While President Biden acknowledged concerns about his capabilities, he remains resolute in his decision to continue his bid for re-election. At a campaign reception on June 29, 2024, he defended his experience and commitment, saying, "I know how to tell the truth. I know right from wrong. I know how to do this job. And I know how to get things done. And I know, like millions of Americans know, when you get kicked down, you get back up. And we’re back up," as reported by Boston 25 News. However, the push for change seems to be gaining momentum, with statistics from a Suffolk University/Boston Globe poll indicating a significant majority of Democratic and left-leaning voters in Massachusetts prefer a nominee other than Biden to take on Trump in the upcoming election.
