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By Ewan Palmer
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A further three Democratic lawmakers have asked President Joe Biden to end his 2024 campaign following his high stakes NATO press conference on Thursday evening.
Reps. Eric Sorensen of Illinois, Jim Himes of Connecticut and Scott Peters of California have urged Biden to step aside and allow the Democratic Party to select a new nominee to face off against Donald Trump in November.
Biden has faced increasing calls to stand down in the wake of his stumbling CNN debate performance against Trump on June 27.
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While Biden delivered a more reassuring performance during his press conference in Washington, D.C. on Thursday, the president still made a major gaffe when he referred to Vice President Kamala Harris as "Vice President Trump." Before the press conference, Biden also accidentally referred to Ukrainian leader President Volodymyr Zelensky as "President Putin," before correcting himself.
In a statement, Sorensen said: "Every day, I remain committed to the people of Central and Northwestern Illinois. I believe our best days are still ahead. And today, I am hopeful President Biden will step aside in his campaign for president."
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The Context
Biden's press conference on Thursday was considered a pivotal moment for his 2024 bid amid increasing pressure from his own party to end his reelection campaign.
There are now at least 17 Democratic members of Congress and senators who have asked Biden to end his 2024 campaign. Dozens more lawmakers are also expected to urge Biden to step aside in the coming days, reported CBS News citing unnamed sources.
Even before the CNN debate on June 27, Biden, 81, had long faced concerns that he was too old or lacking the cognitive fitness to run for a second term in office.
What We Know
Biden has dismissed suggestions he should end his 2024 campaign in the wake of his worrying debate performance, and insists he is still the best person to stop Trump from reentering the White House.
In his statement calling for him to end his campaign, Sorensen said Biden is a "good man who has spent the bulk of his life" in service to the country.
"In 2020, Joe Biden ran for President with the purpose of putting country over party. Today, I am asking him to do that again," Sorensen said.
"It is more important than ever that our neighbors have a candidate for President who will communicate a positive vision for every person in this country. Someone who can demonstrate the strength and wisdom needed to lead us through the worst storms. A leader who will stand up to the present threats against democracy."
Himes, the leading Democrat on the Intelligence Committee, also said Biden is a "remarkable leader of unparalleled public service" but believes the party needs a new nominee going forward.
"It is because of those traits, and in consideration of that legacy, that I hope President Biden will step away from the presidential campaign," Himes said.
"The 2024 election will define the future of American democracy, and we must put forth the strongest candidate possible to confront the threat posed by Trump's promised MAGA authoritarianism.
"I no longer believe that is Joe Biden, and I hope that, as he has throughout a lifetime of public service, he will continue to put our nation first and, as he promised, make way for a new generation of leaders."
In a statement asking Biden to withdraw from the presidential race, Peters said: "The stakes are high, and we are on a losing course."
Biden's office has been contacted for comment via email.
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Biden reaffirmed his intention to stay in the 2024 race on Thursday: "I'm not handing off to another generation: I've got to finish this job. I've got to finish this job, because there's so much at stake."
Trump mocked Biden for his gaffe at the press conference in a post on Truth Social: "Crooked Joe begins his 'Big Boy' Press Conference with, 'I wouldn't have picked Vice President Trump to be vice president, though I think she was not qualified to be president.' Great job, Joe!"
What's Next
CBS News reports that dozens of Democratic lawmakers are to issue statements calling for Biden to end his campaign within the next 48 hours.
Biden is on course to be confirmed as his party's 2024 presidential nominee at the Democratic National Committee in Chicago in August.
Update 7/12/2024 6:43 a.m. ET: The headline has changed.
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