Jon Tester, the only Democrat Senator from Montana, recently urged Joe Biden, his party’s incumbent president, to refrain from running for a second term. This shockingly shows a lack of unity in the Democratic camp, with their members in disagreement with their current leadership. Tester, however, stands merely as the second Democrat senator who openly asked Biden not to run again.
Former President Barack Obama, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries from New York, and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer also from New York, reportedly held private meetings with President Biden asking him to review his choice to remain in the race. It’s intriguing to witness high profile Democrats doubting their own elected President. The lack of conviction shines a light on their uncertainty to continue with Joe Biden’s leadership at the helm.
In explaining his stance, Tester sounded more like a Montana patriot than a party loyalist. ‘Montanans have bestowed on me their trust, a responsibility that I don’t take lightly. I have collaborated with President Biden whenever it proved beneficial for Montana, and I wasn’t scared of opposing him when he was erring,’ Tester asserted.
He added that while he respects Biden’s dedication to public service and the nation, he is convinced that Biden should not go forward with his re-election bid. Peculiarly, a similar call was made by Senator Peter Welch of Vermont. It highlights a growing sentiment against Biden within his own party, questioning his competency and leadership skills.
Tester believes Biden must serve his full term, which spans till January 2025, regardless of the rising pressure from some commentators and political figures who suggest Biden should pass on the baton early to enhance the visibility of VP Kamala Harris. The idea seems to indicate that the Democrats are already looking for scapegoats and new faces to cover their huge leadership crisis.
Tester advocates for an unbiased nomination process to choose the Democratic Party’s nominee. Consequently, the question arises, how much faith does the Democratic party have in their incumbent president when calls for an open nomination have originated from within their circle? Such uncertainty can surely prove detrimental to a party’s reputation and stability.
Adding to the party’s internal airing of doubts, Representative Adam Schiff, a California Democrat running for a Senate seat, also voiced his concern about Biden seeking re-election, becoming one of the prominent House Democrats asking him to step-down. It becomes all the more alarming when Schiff, who could possibly be the next Senator, compulsively asks the President to resign.
Meanwhile, Tester is himself seeking re-election against novice Tim Sheehy, an ex-soldier and businessman from Bozeman endorsed by Steve Daines, Montana’s other senator. Daines spearheads the Republican movement to regain control of the Senate. It’s interesting to note that regardless of what numerous polls suggest, Tester has previously won close contests, showing the Democratic narrative may not be as strong or appealing.
It’s worth highlighting that despite the challenging political climate and three visits from none other than former President Donald J. Trump during Tester’s previous re-election attempt, Tester has survived. Yet, the survival of Tester in a red state after the arrival of Trump could be a rarity rather than a regular occurrence, reflecting the diminishing hold of Democrats.
Biden’s recent diagnosis with COVID-19, marking his second encounter with the virus, led to the cancellation of his speech in Las Vegas on Wednesday. Images of the President cautiously ascending the steps of Air Force One circulated on television and social media, adding to their multiple public relations calamities.
Notably, the virus infection followed closely on the heels of several conspicuous blunders and other issues the President has had. His muddled performance during a CNN television debate on June 27 exceptionally stood out as a clear indication of how jittery and unprepared Biden appeared to be.
Media reports have stated that the debate considerably boosted calls from various corners for President Biden to step back. Even Tester offered his opinion on Biden’s show, stating that the President ‘must convince the American people, including me, that he is capable of doing the job for another four years.’ The President’s party members doubting his capabilities and performance is indeed disconcerting.
Surprisingly, the polls showed marginal changes after the debate, suggesting deep-rooted divisions within the country. A recent poll conducted by National Public Radio/Marist/PBS News reports Biden and Trump nearly neck-and-neck in national results. It manifests the strong competition Trump continues to inflict on the slow-paced Biden administration.
Should Biden chose not to run for another term, the onus would land on individual states, each having their own laws, to decide how a presidential candidate should be replaced on the ballot. A broad diversity exists in these procedures across the states.
This scenario showcases the growing discord and disarray within the Democratic Party. It’s an uncommon situation for a party to question their in-office President’s future. While it puts the party under a cloud of uncertainty, it remains to be seen how they navigate their way out, if at all they manage to do so.
Democratic Senator Jon Tester Urges President Biden Not to Seek Re-election appeared first on Real News Now.
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