By Adeola Adeosun
Weekend Night Editor
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A childhood neighbor and longtime supporter of President Joe Biden has publicly called for him to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race, adding to growing concerns within Democratic circles following Biden's recent debate performance against former President Donald Trump.
Jay Parini, a poet and novelist who teaches at Vermont's Middlebury College, recently penned an open letter featured on CNN's Opinion page entitled "Dear Joe, it's time to go" to the president, citing concerns about Biden's age and performance in last week's debate in Atlanta. Parini's connection to Biden runs deep; his mother was friends with Biden's mother and occasionally babysat for young Joe in his beloved hometown of Scranton, Pennsylvania.
"Few leaders in American history have had your big heart or sense of moderation," Parini wrote. "But you're an old man now, like me. I know what it's like to summon the energy to move forcefully through the day. Our bodies don't cooperate as they once did. Sometimes it hurts even to get up in the morning."
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Parini's critique is particularly poignant given his intimate knowledge of Biden's formative years in Scranton. In previous writings for CNN, Parini has highlighted how the close-knit Pennsylvania community shaped Biden's character, recalling how local shopkeepers would offer young Joe free candy and hoagies during tough times.
"Families stuck by each other," Parini's mother once said, describing the ethos that defined Biden's early years. This environment, where community support was a given, likely influenced Biden's political philosophy. Parini also wrote a column for CNN after Biden's presidential inauguration in 2020 titled, "Biden's inaugural speech got it exactly right."
The opinion letter comes at a critical juncture in Biden's re-election campaign, as polls show a tight race between the incumbent and his likely Republican challenger, Donald Trump. Biden, who turned 81 in November, has faced persistent questions about his age and mental acuity for office throughout his presidency.
Biden's former neighbor continues his plea for the president to step aside by writing, "I found myself weeping. Weeping for you. Weeping for our nation. You're a man of huge integrity, Joe, and you must — you MUST — stand down. Do it for your country and your party. The threat of another four years of Trump, a grifter and con man, is existential."
Newsweek reached out to Biden's campaign via email on Saturday afternoon for comment.
Parini's critique also focused heavily on Biden's recent debate performance, describing the president as appearing "dazed and confused" and "ancient, pale and fragile" on stage.
Despite these desperate concerns, the Biden campaign has firmly rejected any suggestion of the president dropping out. Michael Tyler, the Biden campaign's communications director, stated unequivocally, "There have been no conversations about that whatsoever." Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Friday, Tyler emphasized, "The Democratic voters nominated Joe Biden. Joe Biden is the nominee."
The campaign had hoped the debate would relieve some voter concerns about Biden's age and fitness for office. However, Biden's performance, characterized by a raspy voice and occasional loss of train of thought, has only intensified these worries among some Democrats.
In response to the growing unease, former President Barack Obama and other prominent Democrats have rallied around Biden. Obama took to social media platform X, writing, "Bad debate nights happen. Trust me, I know. But this election is still a choice between someone who has fought for ordinary folks his entire life and someone who only cares about himself."
The Democratic National Committee (DNC) continues to express its full support for Biden's re-election bid. DNC Chair Jaime Harrison recently stated, "President Biden has delivered for the American people time and time again. We are confident in his leadership and his vision for the future of our country."
However, some Democratic strategists privately acknowledge concerns about Biden's age and how it might affect the party's chances in November. A recent Gallup poll found that 51% of Americans believe Biden's age would hinder his ability to serve effectively as president for another four years.
Despite these challenges, the Biden campaign insists it will not change its strategy. Tyler stated, "Our strategy won't change in any way."
As the election year progresses, all eyes will be on Biden to see how he responds to these calls and criticisms. With the Democratic National Convention scheduled for late August, the president has limited opportunities to address voters directly on the campaign trail before then.
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