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Biden’s gaffes over Zelenskyy, Harris names have extended crisis for Democrats: Analysts

United States President Joe Biden, 81, has faced growing calls to drop out of the presidential race against Republican rival Donald Trump since a disastrous debate in June.

Biden’s gaffes over Zelenskyy, Harris names have extended crisis for Democrats: Analysts

President Joe Biden speaks at a news conference on the final day of the NATO summit in Washington, July 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

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At a NATO summit in Washington DC on Thursday (Jul 11), United States President Joe Biden mistakenly introduced Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as Russia’s President Vladimir Putin.

Just a few hours later at a press conference, Biden mistakenly referred to his Republican rival – former president Donald Trump – instead of his vice president Kamala Harris.

Doubts had already been growing among donors, supporters and fellow Democrats that the 81-year-old can no longer beat Trump, 78, in the Nov 5 election or lead the US for another four years.

Experts told CNA that Biden’s latest gaffes have intensified the ongoing crisis in the Democratic Party, while doubters will unlikely be satisfied by his reassurance that he has taken three neurological tests to allay concerns over his mental fitness.

Calls from Democrats for Biden to resign from the presidential race began when he delivered a halting performance during a 90-minute debate against Trump on Jun 27.

His televised interview with ABC News a week later did little to quell growing calls for him to step aside. 

DIFFICULT TO CHANGE NARRATIVE

John Aughenbaugh, Associate Professor of Political Science at Virginia Commonwealth University, told CNA’s Asia First programme that Biden’s missteps on Thursday would “only continue the narrative” that he is “a president who has created some significant doubts in regards to his age”.

During the news conference, Biden had reiterated his insistence to stay in the race.

Aughenbaugh noted: “On one hand, his supporters will point to the fact that he apparently has had three neurological exams and has done well with them.

“But for those who already have their doubts, I'm not entirely sure that there is a particular number of neurological exams that President Biden could take and successfully pass, that would satisfy them.”

This is a “pretty strong narrative” among US media as well as a significant percentage of voters, including Democratic ones, said Aughenbaugh.

“It’s really difficult to go ahead and change that narrative now,” he added.

He referenced the fact that in 2020, when Biden was elected, the president indicated that he would be a “bridge” to younger Democratic candidates.

Biden explained on Thursday that he abandoned this pledge as America's domestic and international context have changed dramatically since then.

Nevertheless, Aughenbaugh said Biden again showed great command about US foreign policy and has proven to be a “gritty and defiant” elected official.

“A VERY WEAK CANDIDATE”

Lester Munson, non-resident fellow at the University of Sydney’s non-profit United States Studies Centre, agreed that Biden is “one of the most stubborn and self-confident” politicians in the US.

Hence, it is not surprising he wants to stay in the race. However, many in his own party may not want the same, added Munson, who is also adjunct faculty at Johns Hopkins University.

So far, one Democratic senator and 13 Democrats in the House of Representatives have called on Biden to drop out.

The most likely scenario at this point is that Biden stays on as the party’s presidential candidate and he loses to Trump in November, Munson told CNA’s Asia Now programme.

“He's, at this point, a very weakened candidate. The polls generally show this. There are some exceptions. There was a Washington Post poll on Thursday that showed President Biden was not doing as badly as people thought,” he added. 

“But basically, the majority of these polls are showing he's a very weak candidate.”

While Biden did better at the news conference compared with his debate with Trump, Munson noted that Biden has not put to bed concerns about his age and mental acuity.

“There's clearly an issue here … What he's done is extend this crisis for Democrats and for an even longer period of time,” he added.

Democratic presidential candidate and US President Joe Biden listens as Republican presidential candidate and former US president Donald Trump speaks during their debate in Atlanta, Georgia, US on Jun 27, 2024. (Photo: Reuters)

WHAT COULD PERSUADE BIDEN TO DROP OUT?

Aughenbaugh noted that time is one advantage that Biden has.

As the Democratic National Convention – where party delegates select its nominees for president and vice president – draws closer, it will become more difficult for the party to go in another direction, Aughenbaugh pointed out.

The convention is scheduled to be held in mid-August.

However, observers are concerned about the lack of an alternative candidate who will be able to hold his or her own against Trump. 

Names being floated include popular Cabinet members and Democratic governors like Gavin Newsom from California, Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, and Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania.

Vice President Kamala Harris is likely the top alternative to replace Biden if he decides not to continue his reelection campaign.

When asked if anything could persuade Biden to consider dropping out of the race, Aughenbaugh said people should not underestimate how important fundraising is for running for elections in the US.

Biden had mentioned during the news conference that his campaign has significant money on hand.

Aughenbaugh brought up an editorial that high-profile actor and donor George Clooney had penned for the New York Times, calling on Biden to leave the race. This came three weeks after Clooney co-hosted a huge fundraiser in Los Angeles that raised nearly US$30 million for Biden.

“If those donors make it very clear that their proverbial cheque books won't be as open or they might close, this could put pressure on the party elites to then put pressure on President Biden to perhaps step down,” Aughenbaugh added.

Source: CNA/lt(dn)
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