Allies of U.S. President Joe Biden have expressed serious doubts about his chances of winning the upcoming presidential election, urging him to consider stepping aside for another Democratic candidate. This sentiment arose after Biden mistakenly referred to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as “President Putin” during the NATO summit.
Speaking at the conclusion of the three-day summit, President Biden introduced Zelenskyy with the slip, saying, “Ladies and gentlemen, President Putin,” before quickly correcting himself. He added, “I’m going to beat President Putin, President Zelenskyy. I am so focused on beating Putin.” Zelenskyy humorously responded, “I am better.”
This blunder came on the heels of reports from NBC News that several of Biden’s close allies, including individuals involved in his re-election campaign, believe his chances of winning are non-existent. These allies, who spoke on condition of anonymity, suggested that Biden should step down to allow another Democrat to run.
Concerns about Biden’s mental fitness have intensified, especially after a poor performance in a recent debate against former President Donald Trump. Additionally, the White House had to deny rumors that Biden was being treated for Parkinson’s disease, following multiple visits from a specialist doctor. Biden’s physician later confirmed that the president shows no signs of Parkinson’s or any other neurological disease.
The Biden campaign is reportedly assessing Vice President Kamala Harris’s viability as a candidate against Trump in a potential head-to-head poll. This comes amid a wave of skepticism about Biden’s ability to secure another term, with some campaign officials describing the current situation as unsustainable.
A longtime Democratic strategist criticized the White House’s handling of Biden’s campaign, saying, “We’re all waiting around for Joe Biden to f*** up again, which is not a great position to be in.” Despite some hope for a turnaround, the prevailing opinion among Biden’s supporters is that defeating Trump in the upcoming election should be the priority.
However, Biden campaign spokesperson TJ Ducklo dismissed the reports as “patently false,” asserting that the team remains united behind the president. The White House has maintained that Biden will continue his re-election bid, emphasizing his belief that he is the best candidate to defeat Trump.
President Biden’s decision to run for re-election at 81 years old has been driven by his confidence in his ability to beat Trump, despite concerns about Vice President Harris’s appeal to moderate voters, particularly in swing states.
Source: Sky News
