Steadfast Loyalties: Reasons why Many Democrats Stand by Biden
President Joe Biden took center stage at a rally in Detroit, Michigan, on Friday evening, greeted by chants of "Don't you quit!" echoing through the venue—a resounding affirmation of support from the raucous crowd. The presumptive Democratic nominee, amidst thunderous cheers, vowed with unwavering determination, "I am running! And I'm gonna win!"
As strains of Tom Petty's iconic hit "I Won't Back Down" filled the high school gymnasium, the implicit rejection of internal calls for Biden to step aside due to concerns over his age was palpable. Despite a growing chorus of dissent, a significant faction of Democrats remains steadfastly loyal to the 81-year-old commander-in-chief.
At least 80 Democratic politicians have publicly thrown their weight behind Biden, with more joining as he adamantly asserts his intention to stay the course. For many, his political record, principles, and hard-fought 2020 victory over Donald Trump outweigh any perceived missteps or health concerns in a potential second term.
During Biden's first solo news conference of the year on Thursday, amidst detailed responses on NATO and his plans for a second term, several headlines fixated on his momentary lapse, referring to Vice President Kamala Harris as "Vice President Trump." However, his allies—at least for now—praised the embattled commander-in-chief's performance, which drew a live audience of over 23 million viewers, surpassing even this year's Oscars viewership.
"I thought he showed a real command of foreign policy, really extraordinary," remarked North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper to reporters on Friday. "I don't think Donald Trump can talk about foreign policy coherently for one minute."
California Governor Gavin Newsom, touted as a potential successor, emphatically declared to CBS, "I'm all in" for Biden, adding that there was "no daylight" between them.
Congressman Brendan Boyle of Pennsylvania lauded Biden, stating that he "showed he knows a million times more about policy" than Trump, "the convict conman."
Experts suggest that these politicians have a host of reasons underpinning their unwavering support, including Biden's record in office, his 2020 triumph against Trump, and the challenges of introducing a new candidate so close to the November election.
"The president has made it clear he wants to continue to run, and I think people are being very respectful of that," said Simon Rosenberg, a Democratic strategist. "Replacing a presidential candidate this late is unprecedented, and so there's enormous reticence about making a big change."
Rosenberg noted a "healthy debate" surrounding the nominee's identity.
Despite calls for Biden's withdrawal from the race, a recent poll suggests he has not lost significant voter support. The Biden campaign has highlighted a survey from the Washington Post, ABC News, and Ipsos, showing him in a dead heat with Trump—consistent with pre-debate polling. However, the poll also found that two-thirds of Americans want Biden to step aside.
Biden has also lost support from some within Hollywood's elite. Actress Ashley Judd called on Biden to step down in a USA Today op-ed on Friday, stating that the party needed a "robust" candidate. Her article followed a more scathing opinion piece by George Clooney earlier this week.
Longtime Democratic donor Whitney Tilson is the latest fundraiser to withdraw support, telling the BBC on Friday that he was increasingly confident Biden would exit the race. Other Democratic donors reportedly told the pro-Biden fundraising group Future Forward that pledges worth some $90 million were on hold until he withdraws, according to the New York Times.
However, other prominent donors remain steadfast in their backing of the president.
Shekar Narasimhan, who has been organizing fundraisers for Democrats for over two decades, affirmed there had been no change in his plans.
"Our eyes can see what's going on, our ears can hear what's being talked about, but we are keeping our heads down to get the work done," said Narasimhan, the founder of the Asian American Pacific Islander Victory Fund Super-PAC.
"It's the president's decision to make, whether he wants to run or not, and we will go with whatever he decides," he said. "But it's better to end this discussion as soon as possible."
Narasimhan's support for Biden stems from his belief that the incumbent will emerge victorious. "This election will be decided by no more than a total of 50,000 votes in three states—Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin—and we have the ground game and infrastructure to win there," he asserted.
Frank Islam, who sits on the National Finance Committee, echoed Narasimhan's sentiments, stating that he had a fundraiser planned at his Maryland home later this month. "I am absolutely going ahead with it because I know he [Biden] will win," he said.
As the 2024 presidential race intensifies, Biden's unwavering determination and the steadfast loyalty of many Democrats point to a pivotal battle ahead, one that will test the party's unity and resolve in the face of mounting challenges and dissenting voices.