Vermont Senator Peter Welch has become the first Democratic senator to call for Joe Biden to end his reelection campaign, due to the president’s deteriorating cognitive health.
“For the good of the country, I’m calling on President Biden to withdraw from the race,” Welch wrote Tuesday in a Washington Post opinion piece, citing the importance of this year’s elections:
“I, like folks across the country, am worried about November’s election. The stakes could not be higher. We cannot unsee President Biden’s disastrous debate performance. We cannot ignore or dismiss the valid questions raised since that night.”
Sen. Welch is not the only Democrat who has voiced his opposition to Biden continuing as the Democrat candidate. Forbes published a litany of prominent Democrat figures who have openly expressed their desire for Biden to drop out, such as Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Rep. Pat Ryan (D-NY), Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO), Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ), Andrew Yang, and many others.
It is unsurprising that polls show that support for Biden has plummeted since the debate. His wreck of a performance in the debate has prompted many committed Democrats to question his ability to lead his party and the nation.
Although Welch did not expressly say who he thinks should replace Biden on the ticket, he and many other Democrats have proposed Kamala as a viable option.
“Vice President Harris is a capable, proven leader, and we have other electable, young, energizing Democratic governors and senators in swing states,” he wrote. “Not only do these leaders have experience running and winning in tough political environments, they also have fundraising networks, media experience, charisma, and the ability to inspire voters across generations and across our big tent.”