Biden Faces Growing Scrutiny Amid Debate Fallout

President Joe Biden is set to meet with congressional leaders and Democratic governors in the coming days, aiming to counter mounting pressure for his withdrawal from the 2024 race following a lackluster debate performance against Republican Donald Trump. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre attributed Biden's performance to a cold, dismissing calls for him to step aside. Biden, who is 81, blamed his performance on jet lag from recent European trips and jokingly referred to falling asleep on stage.

Despite attempts to downplay the issue, Democratic leaders remain skeptical, pointing to Biden's halting and nonsensical answers during the debate. Anxiety is growing among donors and on Capitol Hill about Biden's election prospects, with frustration over the White House's explanations. Anonymous sources described Biden as sharp and focused at times but jumbled and confused, particularly in the evenings.

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi acknowledged on MSNBC that it’s legitimate to question whether Biden's performance was an isolated incident but stopped short of calling for him to step aside. In contrast, Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas became the first Democratic member of Congress to publicly call for Biden to step down, citing his inability to effectively defend his accomplishments.

Rep. Jared Golden of Maine expressed a lack of concern over Biden’s debate performance, predicting a Trump victory and stating he was okay with that outcome. Biden's family, including First Lady Jill Biden and his son Hunter Biden, have encouraged him to remain in the race. Hunter Biden visited Washington for the July 4th holiday, attending a meeting with his father.

Biden has not taken questions from reporters since the debate but will sit for an interview with ABC's George Stephanopoulos on Friday. He has planned trips to Wisconsin and Philadelphia later this week and will hold an all-staff meeting on Wednesday to boost morale.

The White House is also focused on contrasting Biden with Trump, especially on issues related to the rule of law and a recent Supreme Court ruling granting Trump broad immunity. Democratic governors expressed their fears and frustrations over Biden’s debate performance during a call convened by Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, chair of the Democratic Governors Association. The upcoming meeting with Biden, expected to be both in-person and virtual, aims to be forward-looking, allowing governors to share voter feedback and hear the campaign’s plan moving forward.

Biden’s campaign has been actively meeting with top donors to address their concerns, highlighting strong fundraising efforts, with $127 million raised last month. However, governors have expressed frustration over the lack of direct communication from Biden and his campaign post-debate. Communications directors for Governors Phil Murphy of New Jersey and Kathy Hochul of New York refuted claims of poor communication, noting ongoing discussions with Biden.

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly called Biden “a decent man of strong character” and pledged her support in November. As Biden prepares for his critical meetings and media appearances, the White House remains focused on shoring up support and addressing the fallout from the debate.

Conservative Bias:

Well, folks, here we go again. The liberal media and Democratic establishment are in full panic mode because their so-called leader, Joe Biden, absolutely flopped during the debate against Donald Trump. It's laughable to hear the White House blame a cold or jet lag for Biden's incoherent rambling and nonsensical answers. This is what happens when you put an 81-year-old career politician, who should have retired years ago, up against a strong, decisive leader like Trump. Even Democratic leaders can't hide their skepticism anymore, and donors are rightfully worried. The fact that Biden hasn't taken questions from reporters since the debate speaks volumes. They know he's not up to the task, and yet they keep pushing him forward, probably because they have no better options. The Democrats are in disarray, folks, and it's clear they can't handle the pressure. This is what happens when you prioritize identity politics and woke agendas over real leadership. The American people deserve better, and come November, they'll show the Democrats just how fed up they are with this nonsense.

Liberal Bias:

What an absolute travesty. Joe Biden's debate performance was a disaster, and it's all thanks to the relentless obstruction and sabotage by the Republicans. The man is 81 years old, and yet he's still fighting tooth and nail to clean up the mess left by Trump and his cronies. Instead of offering constructive criticism, Republicans are gleefully exploiting Biden's every misstep, showing their complete lack of empathy and decency. It's no wonder Democratic leaders and donors are anxious; they're up against a party that thrives on chaos and division. The fact that Biden's own party members are starting to question his ability to lead is a testament to the toxic environment created by the GOP. And let's not forget, Biden is still dealing with the fallout from Trump's disastrous policies and the Supreme Court's recent ruling granting Trump broad immunity. The Republicans have rigged the system in their favor, and now they're sitting back and watching as Biden struggles to navigate this minefield. But make no mistake, Biden is a decent man of strong character, and he's not going to back down. The upcoming meetings and media appearances are crucial for rallying support and pushing back against the GOP's relentless smear campaign. The American people need to see the stark contrast between Biden's commitment to the rule of law and Trump's blatant disregard for it. It's time to fight back and show the Republicans that their days of undermining democracy are numbered.