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This week, key players in the Democratic Party have ratcheted up the pressure on President Joe Biden to step down from the presidential race, citing polling that suggests he’ll lose to former President Donald Trump and drag congressional Democrats down with him.
On Thursday, U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, both Democrats, added their shoulder to the push—Wyden very gently, Merkley less so.
Wyden told KVAL-TV in Eugene that the decision whether to continue the campaign is Biden’s alone, but that the president should consult polling data. (Those numbers are bad.)
Until now, Wyden had full-throatedly supported Biden staying in the race. Wyden’s office provided his answer to WW today after this paper asked whether the senator’s position had changed.
“I have made it clear that the top priority has got to be defeating Donald Trump,” Wyden told KVAL. “Now, President Biden has access to resources—polling and the like—and my hope is that he’ll listen to people who are expert in those areas so that we can figure out a way to make sure that the bottom line is defeating Donald Trump.”
U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley is another steadfast supporter whose rhetoric has taken a notable turn. In a statement to WW released this afternoon, he praised Biden’s “historic successes” but acknowledged concerns.
“The question of whether Biden will be the Democratic nominee rests in Biden’s hands, but serious concerns have been raised that merit serious consideration. Time is running out. He either has to quickly demonstrate his ability to lead the ticket by engaging with voters in unscripted settings and laying out a powerful agenda. Or, he needs to step down and facilitate a transition to sustain the values and programs he’s championed.”
Last week, U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) became the first and only member of Oregon’s congressional delegation to call for Biden to end his campaign.
This story has been updated with Merkley’s response.