(Washington) Democrats announced Wednesday their intention to speed up the process of nominating Joe Biden with a virtual voting system, much to the dismay of those who hope to see him withdraw from the race for the White House.
The system would allow for virtual voting during the first week of August rather than waiting for the Democratic Convention that begins in Chicago on August 19, and during which the candidate must officially be sworn in for the presidential election on November 5 against Donald Trump. A way to try to force through Joe Biden’s candidacy despite doubts about his ability to ensure a new term.
According to a recent poll, nearly two-thirds of Democrats want the 81-year-old president to throw in the towel after his disastrous debate against Republican rival Donald Trump, which significantly increased doubts about his mental and physical acuity.
About twenty Democratic elected officials, including the most recent Adam Schiff, an ally of Joe Biden and an influential figure in the party, have begged the president to step down in favor of someone else.
PHOTO JENNA SCHOENEFELD, THE NEW YORK TIMES ARCHIVES
Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff
Joe Biden “has been one of the most consequential presidents in our nation’s history, and his lifelong service as senator, vice president, and now president, has made our country a better place,” Schiff said in a statement to the Los Angeles Times.
“But our nation is at a crossroads,” he added.
“A second Trump presidency would undermine the very foundations of our democracy, and I have serious concerns about the president’s ability to defeat Donald Trump in November,” he added.
According to the press release cited by the Los Angeles TimesMr. Schiff says that “the choice to step down from the campaign is Mr. Biden’s,” but the congressman believes it is time for the 81-year-old president to “pass the torch.”
A group tasked with organizing the Democratic National Convention said it would meet Friday to discuss the virtual voting plan. But “no virtual voting will begin until May 1er August,” he wrote in a letter addressed to Democrats and seen by AFP.
The American media had raised the possibility that the process could begin as early as next week. “There will be no rush,” the group assures in the letter.
Democratic officials estimate the virtual campaign should be in place before the state of Ohio’s August 7 deadline for submitting candidate nominations.
The outgoing president’s deputy campaign manager called on the media “not to get bogged down in procedural stories” at a time when “Republicans are lying to the American people on virtually every issue.”
But the plan has some Democrats unhappy, and some elected officials plan to sign a letter denouncing it.
After a brief interlude due to the earthquake caused by the assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump, discord has resumed in full force in the outgoing president’s camp.