{"id":2289863,"date":"2024-07-06T11:28:02","date_gmt":"2024-07-06T15:28:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/bidens-woeful-week-presidents-post-debate-week-plagued-by-democratic-dissension-doubts-and-trump-victories-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-07-06T11:32:35","modified_gmt":"2024-07-06T15:32:35","slug":"bidens-woeful-week-presidents-post-debate-week-plagued-by-democratic-dissension-doubts-and-trump-victories-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/bidens-woeful-week-presidents-post-debate-week-plagued-by-democratic-dissension-doubts-and-trump-victories-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Biden\u2019s woeful week: President\u2019s post-debate week plagued by Democratic dissension, doubts, and Trump victories &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">34<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fbidens-woeful-week-presidents-post-debate-week-plagued-by-democratic-dissension-doubts-and-trump-victories-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2289863&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Ll showed Biden trailing Trump by 12 points in Pennsylvania, 9\u200c points in Michigan, and 6 points in Wisconsin, three states \u200dcritical to the president&#8217;s reelection hopes. The internal poll also revealed alarming data about Biden&#8217;s support among key \u200ddemographics, particularly\u200c white\u2063 voters and independents. The leak further undermined \u2062the already shaky confidence in Biden&#8217;s ability to win in November.<\/p>\n<p>With calls for his resignation \u2063growing louder, Biden was forced to \u200baddress the speculation surrounding his candidacy. \u2063In a \u2064<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrats-spun-bidens-classified-docs-as-six-items-but-special-counsel-report-reveals-it-was-300-plus\/\" title=\"Democrats misrepresented the number of Biden&#039;s classified documents as &#039;six items,&#039; but the special counsel report reveals it was over 300\">hastily arranged press conference<\/a> at the White House, the president <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/presidential\/3068236\/biden-says-hes-not-running-for-reelection\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>announced<\/a> that he would\u2062 not seek reelection in 2024. The decision sent shockwaves through the political establishment and set\u200b off a scramble within the\u2062 Democratic Party\u200c to find a new standard bearer.<\/p>\n<p>Despite stepping down from the race, Biden pledged to do everything in his power to ensure a Democratic victory in November. He\u200d endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as his successor, calling her a &#8220;capable and qualified leader&#8221; who would continue his legacy.<\/p>\n<p>As the day drew to a close, the political world was left reeling from the sudden turn of events. The \u2063once presumptive Democratic\u200d nominee had fallen from grace in a matter of days, leaving a gaping\u200d void at the top \u200cof the ticket and throwing the party&#8217;s electoral prospects into disarray.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Wednesday<\/h2>\n<p>With the shock of Biden&#8217;s announcement\u200c still \u2062reverberating \u2062through the political landscape, Wednesday dawned on a Democratic Party in crisis. The\u200d sudden vacancy at the top \u200cof the ticket\u200c set off a frenzied round of speculation and maneuvering as potential \u200bcandidates jockeyed\u200b for position.<\/p>\n<p>Vice President Kamala Harris emerged as the early frontrunner to replace Biden, with a groundswell of support coalescing around her candidacy.\u200c Prominent party leaders, \u2062including Speaker Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer,\u2062 quickly threw their weight behind Harris, touting her experience and \u2063qualifications for the job.<\/p>\n<p>However, Harris&#8217; ascension to the top of the ticket was by no means assured. Several other high-profile Democrats were rumored\u2063 to\u200b be considering a run, including former President Barack Obama, New York\u2062 Governor Andrew Cuomo, and Senators Elizabeth Warren \u200dand\u2063 Cory Booker.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, the Republican Party wasted no time in capitalizing on\u200d the Democrats&#8217; disarray. President Trump seized the opportunity to attack Harris,\u2064 casting her as an &#8220;unpopular \u200dand radical&#8221; choice who would lead the country down a dangerous path.<\/p>\n<p>As the day unfolded, it became clear that the 2024\u2064 presidential race had been upended in ways no one could have predicted. The once-stable political landscape had been thrown into chaos, \u2064with the \u2063outcome of the election \u2064now more uncertain than ever.<\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><br \/>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><a class=\"tdb-logo-a\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" title=\"Washington Examiner\"><span class=\"tdb-logo-img-wrap\"><\/span><span class=\"tdb-logo-text-wrap\"><span class=\"tdb-logo-text-title\">Washington Examiner<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\">\n<div class=\"tdb-search-form-inner\"><input class=\"tdb-head-search-form-input\" placeholder=\" \" type=\"text\" value name=\"s\" autocomplete=\"off\"><button class=\"wpb_button wpb_btn-inverse btn tdb-head-search-form-btn\" title=\"Search\" type=\"submit\"><span>Search<\/span><\/button><\/div>\n<\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><a class=\"tdb-logo-a\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" title=\"Washington Examiner\"><span class=\"tdb-logo-img-wrap\"><\/span><span class=\"tdb-logo-text-wrap\"><span class=\"tdb-logo-text-title\">Washington Examiner<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Biden\u2019s woeful week: President\u2019s post-debate week plagued by Democratic dissension, doubts, and Trump victories<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-author-name-wrap\"><span class=\"tdb-author-by\">By<\/span> <a class=\"tdb-author-name\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/author\/brady-knox\/\">Brady Knox<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><time class=\"entry-date updated td-module-date\" datetime=\"2024-07-06T11:23:50-04:00\">July 6, 2024 11:23 am<\/time><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1695980\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/joe-biden\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Joe Biden\u2019s\">Joe Biden<\/a>\u2019s week following his shaky debate performance against former President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Donald Trump\">Donald Trump<\/a> could hardly have been worse.<\/p>\n<p>After the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/presidential\/3061929\/biden-stumbles-key-takeaways-from-the-first-presidential-debate\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>gaffe-filled debate<\/a>, Biden\u2019s team spent the week scrambling to perform damage control to calm a panicking Democratic Party. The first sitting Democrats broke ranks to ask Biden to step down, Trump shot ahead in polls and won legal victories, and Biden continued to struggle to prove his mental fitness for four more years in office.<\/p>\n<p>Here is a rundown of perhaps the toughest week of Biden\u2019s presidency yet:<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">President Joe Biden boards Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., as he leaves for a campaign trip to Madison, Wis., Friday, July 5, 2024. (AP Photo\/Manuel Balce Ceneta)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Monday<\/h2>\n<p>After an initial storm of criticism immediately following the debate, including calls to step down by prominent groups such as the <em>New York Times<\/em> editorial board, an uneasy calm emerged with the onset of the weekend, a calm which largely carried through Monday. A post-debate rally appearance, where Biden appeared more agile, was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/presidential\/3065198\/biden-debate-comeback-moment-ad\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>pitched<\/a> by the campaign as a sign Biden\u2019s bad night was nothing more than a bump in the road to reelection.<\/p>\n<p>The first cracks emerged with one of the first post-debate polls, from Cygnal, which <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/3066534\/new-post-debate-poll-trump-clear-lead-over-biden-pennsylvania\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>showed<\/a> Trump with a 4-point lead over Biden in the crucial swing state of Pennsylvania, which the president had won in 2020. Worse yet, the data showed Trump building momentum, with his net favorability increasing to 45% while Biden\u2019s stood at just 39%.<\/p>\n<p>Liberal comedian Bill Maher <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/3066710\/bidens-debate-performance-was-a-blessing-in-disguise-bill-maher\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>said<\/a> that Biden should step down in an op-ed for the <em>New York Times<\/em>, putting forward Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) as his preferred candidate.<\/p>\n<p>The one exception to the Monday calm was Trump\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-classified-documents-trial-suspended-indefinitely\/\" title=\"Trial of Trump on classified documents postponed indefinitely\">greatest legal victory<\/a> since being indicted last year. In a 6-3 ruling, the Supreme Court <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/supreme-court\/3030301\/supreme-court-finds-some-immunity-for-presidents-complicating-trump-indictment\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>found<\/a> that presidents are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/watch-live-biden-delivers-remarks-on-supreme-court-immunity-ruling-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"WATCH LIVE: Biden delivers remarks on Supreme Court immunity ruling - Washington Examiner\">granted \u201cabsolute immunity<\/a> from criminal prosecution for actions within his conclusive and preclusive constitutional authority\u201d and \u201cpresumptive immunity\u201d for all official acts. However, it held there is no immunity for \u201cunofficial\u201d acts.<\/p>\n<p>Though applying to him as well, Biden denounced the ruling on the same day.<\/p>\n<p>One of the most significant developments on Monday was the deafening silence of many Democrats over Biden\u2019s debate performance.<\/p>\n<p>Sen. Bob Casey Jr. (D-PA), one of the closest senators to Biden, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/opinion\/3065495\/pennsylvania-senator-silent-regarding-bidens-fitness\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"declined\">declined<\/a> to comment or offer any support for Biden in response to a question on Monday.<\/p>\n<p>Unfortunately for Biden, the uneasy calm wouldn\u2019t last beyond Monday.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tuesday<\/h2>\n<p>In a week of misfortunes, Tuesday was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/3068168\/biden-day-calls-quit-bad-polling-trump-reprieve\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>the worst<\/a> for Biden, with a series of simultaneous blows bringing his entire candidacy into question.<\/p>\n<p>The day began with a damning <a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2024\/07\/02\/biden-campaign-debate-inner-circle-00166160\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>report<\/a> from <em>Politico<\/em>, assembled from interviews with more than two dozen Democrats with knowledge of the inside workings of the White House. The report portrayed Biden as angry and cloistered by a \u201ccabal\u201d of close advisers, cut off from the outside world. The president\u2019s team disputed the characterization. The report was the beginning of several highly negative press depictions of the president throughout the week.<\/p>\n<p>Tuesday saw an influx of calls of concern from major and sitting Democrats, beginning with a close ally, former Rep. Tim Ryan, the first 2020 presidential candidate to drop out to endorse him, suggesting he step down in favor of Vice President Kamala Harris.<\/p>\n<p>Former Rep. Tim Ryan, Reps. Mike Quigley (D-IL), Jared Golden (D-ME), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA), and Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Obama Cabinet member Julian Castro, 2024 Democratic presidential candidate Marianne Williamson, and Colorado congressional candidate Adam Frisch all either expressed deep skepticism about the prospect of a Democratic victory or called for Biden to step down.<\/p>\n<p>Doggett went the furthest in his criticism, saying that Biden must withdraw for the good of the country.<\/p>\n<p>Golden, who faces a difficult reelection bid this November, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bangordailynews.com\/2024\/07\/02\/opinion\/opinion-contributor\/jared-golden-donald-trump-going-to-win-election-democracy-be-just-fine\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>wrote in an op-ed<\/a> released on Tuesday that Biden\u2019s debate performance was \u201cnot a surprise\u201d and it has been clear \u201cfor months\u201d that Trump is going to win the presidential election.<\/p>\n<p>Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) showed her first signs of doubt. In a departure from earlier statements, the California Democrat <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/presidential\/3068045\/pelosi-says-biden-trump-should-take-mental-fitness-tests\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>said<\/a> in an interview on MSNBC\u2019s <em>Andrea Mitchell Reports<\/em> that both Trump and Biden should take cognitive tests, a long-standing demand of Trump\u2019s team.<\/p>\n<p>She also said that voter concerns about Biden\u2019s mental fitness were justified, and said it was up to Biden as to whether or not to drop out.<\/p>\n<p>The next embarrassment came from an admission from White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. She <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/presidential\/3068094\/white-house-hunter-biden-sat-presidents-meetings\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>revealed<\/a> that embattled first son Hunter Biden attended a meeting with his father before the president\u2019s speech regarding the Supreme Court\u2019s immunity decision.<\/p>\n<p>Her remarks lent credence to reports that Hunter Biden has been closely advising his father in political matters. Jean-Pierre was then inundated with questions about Joe Biden\u2019s mental fitness, to which she grew visibly frustrated.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI have an answer for you: Are you ready for it?\u201d Jean-Pierre <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3068268\/white-house-biden-does-not-have-alzheimers-cognitive-test-not-warranted\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>responded<\/a> when asked if the president has dementia or any other degenerative mental illness. \u201cIt\u2019s a no. And I hope you\u2019re asking the other guy the same exact question.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Then, <em>Puck News<\/em> <a href=\"https:\/\/puck.news\/biden-plunges-in-swing-states-in-leaked-post-debate-poll\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>obtained<\/a> a leaked, damning Democratic internal <a href=\"https:\/\/puck.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/SUNDAY_Post-Debate_Landscape_2024_06_30__1_-1.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>poll<\/a> showing Joe Biden with one of if not his worst showings in the presidential cycle yet. The president was found to be behind in every swing state, in several by double digits.<\/p>\n<p>The polling showed Joe Biden behind Trump by about 10% in North Carolina, Georgia, and Arizona, the last two of which the president won in 2020.<\/p>\n<p>Trump also leads the president in Pennsylvania and Michigan, as well as Wisconsin, New Hampshire, Virginia, and New Mexico, according to the survey.<\/p>\n<p>Twisting the knife, Trump\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/troublesome-tuesday-bidens-day-rocked-by-calls-to-quit-bad-polling-and-a-trump-reprieve-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Troublesome Tuesday: Biden\u2019s day rocked by calls to quit, bad polling, and a Trump reprieve - Washington Examiner\">legal position improved substantially<\/a>, with Judge Juan Merchan <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3068066\/judge-postpones-trumps-hush-money-sentencing-to-september\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>delaying<\/a> Trump\u2019s sentencing in the New York hush money case until September in light of the recent Supreme Court immunity decision.<\/p>\n<p>Trump was formerly set to be sentenced on July 11, just days before the Republican National Convention. The delay all but guarantees Trump won\u2019t see jail time before the November election and won\u2019t face any restrictions on campaigning in the crucial months leading up to the election.<\/p>\n<p>Biden concluded his day by soothing donors at a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/presidential\/3068652\/biden-blames-debate-performance-travel-schedule\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>fundraiser event late on Tuesday<\/a>, admitting to his poor debate performance but blaming it on traveling too much during a six-minute address.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI decided to travel around the world a couple of times \u2026 shortly before the debate. \u2026 I\u00a0 didn\u2019t listen to my staff \u2026 and then I almost fell asleep onstage,\u201d he said, saying the move \u201cwasn\u2019t very smart.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The excuse was his second after the White House initially claimed that he had a cold. It left many unconvinced, as he returned from his international travels nearly two weeks before the debate.<\/p>\n<p>A Democratic aide claimed to <em>Reuters<\/em> that a group of 25 House Democrats were planning to call on him to withdraw himself from the presidential race if he \u201cseems shaky\u201d in the days to come.<\/p>\n<p>To cap things off, the <em>Washington Post<\/em> released a report saying that former President Barack Obama privately told allies that Biden\u2019s performance at the debate significantly complicates his reelection chances, a harsher analysis than the one he publicly gave.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Wednesday<\/h2>\n<p>Wednesday saw a continuation of the shakiness from many Democrats of the previous day. Biden held a call with Democratic governors, and he assured them of his mental fitness and intention to stay in the race. However, several leaked details of the call caused concern among some Democrats.<\/p>\n<p>A person who attended the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/presidential\/3070293\/democratic-governors-affirm-support-biden-candid-conversation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>meeting<\/a> told the <em>New York Times <\/em>that at one point during the call, Biden joked that his health was OK, \u201cIt\u2019s just my brain.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Though interpreted by some as a joke, the outlet reported that others were unsure how to interpret the remark.<\/p>\n<p>He also reportedly told those in attendance that he would get more sleep and work fewer hours, while curtailing most events past 8 p.m.<\/p>\n<p>Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-SC), a key Biden ally who all but guaranteed his nomination in 2020, made a similar move to Pelosi, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/presidential\/3069888\/clyburn-floats-mini-primary-biden-replacement\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>entertaining<\/a> some dissent within the Democratic Party over Biden.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou can actually fashion the process that\u2019s already in place to make it a mini primary, and I would support that absolutely,\u201d he said in an interview on CNN. \u201cWe can\u2019t close that down, and we should open up everything for the general election.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>A spokeswoman for Clyburn later clarified in a statement to <em>Politico<\/em> that the congressman was not planning to replace Biden and was only speaking hypothetically.<\/p>\n<p>Two Democrats joined the growing number of sitting representatives calling for Biden to drop out \u2013 Reps. Ra\u00fal Grijalva (D-AZ) and Seth Moulton (D-MA).<\/p>\n<p>Biden\u2019s declining stance in the race was further confirmed by a <em>New York Times<\/em>\/Siena <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2024\/07\/03\/us\/politics\/poll-debate-biden-trump.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>poll<\/a>, which gave Trump his largest lead since the poll was first taken in 2015, improving his position in front of Biden in the week since the debate by 3 points to put him up overall by 6.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Thursday<\/h2>\n<p>The United States\u2019s 248th birthday saw even more pressure mounted on Biden, including some of his harshest press coverage yet.<\/p>\n<p>The <em>Washington Post<\/em> published a hypothetical <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/presidential\/3070596\/washington-post-writes-hypothetical-withdrawal-speech-for-biden\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"July 4 speech\">July 4 speech<\/a> in which Biden announced he was stepping down as a presidential candidate. <em>New York<\/em> magazine published an extensive <a href=\"https:\/\/nymag.com\/intelligencer\/article\/conspiracy-of-silence-to-protect-joe-biden.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>piece<\/a> detailing Biden\u2019s alleged mental decline, citing anonymous Democrats, describing Biden\u2019s appearance as \u201csomething not of this earth.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The <em>Economist<\/em> published its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.economist.com\/leaders\/2024\/07\/04\/why-biden-must-withdraw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"cover piece\">cover piece<\/a> for its weekly magazine featuring a walker with the presidential seal, saying that Biden should step down.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf the debate was awful for Joe Biden, but the cover-up has been worse. It was agony to watch a befuddled old man struggling to recall words and facts,\u201d the editorial board wrote. \u201cBut the operation by his campaign to deny what tens of millions of Americans saw with their own eyes is more toxic than either, because its dishonesty provokes contempt.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Concerns weren\u2019t helped by a gaffe in an appearance on a black radio station, Philadelphia\u2019s WURD radio station, during which he declared himself the \u201cfirst black woman\u201d to serve as vice-president \u201cwith a black president.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">\ud83d\udea8<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/BREAKING?src=hash&#038;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#BREAKING<\/a>: President Joe Biden announced on a Philadelphia radio station that he&#8217;s proud to be the first black woman to serve with a black president causing many listeners to be confused <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/bPyEZOfooL\">pic.twitter.com\/bPyEZOfooL<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/rawsalerts\/status\/1808966525178818897?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 4, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>In another interview with Wisconsin\u2019s Civic Media, he admitted that he \u201cscrewed up\u201d with the debate.<\/p>\n<p>While betting markets <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/finance-and-economy\/3069985\/political-betting-markets-kamala-harris\/#:~:text=So%20if%20you%20wanted%20to,on%20investment%20for%20every%20share.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>surged<\/a> toward Biden being replaced with Harris, major democratic donors began expressing their unwillingness to contribute anything to the 2024 race unless Biden was replaced.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title><strong>CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Abigail Disney, heiress of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/disney\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Disney<\/a> fortune, pledged to withdraw all donations to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/democratic-party\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Democratic Party<\/a> until Biden takes himself out of the race. She was joined by philanthropist Karla Jurvetson and Moriah Fund President Gideon Stein.<\/p>\n<p>Another group of Democratic donors and strategists are pooling their resources into the Next Generation PAC, which hopes to raise $100 million to support any Democratic candidate that replaces Biden.<\/p>\n<p> <script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1695980\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1695980\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><a class=\"tdb-logo-a\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" title=\"Washington Examiner\"><span class=\"tdb-logo-img-wrap\"><\/span><span class=\"tdb-logo-text-wrap\"><span class=\"tdb-logo-text-title\">Washington Examiner<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<p><\/body><\/html><\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>President Joe Biden had a difficult week following his debate with former President Donald Trump, with Democratic dissension, doubts, and Trump victories plaguing his campaign. Biden&#8217;s team worked to do damage control after the debate, but faced criticism and calls for him to step down from prominent Democrats. Trump gained momentum in polls and legal victories, while Biden struggled to prove his mental fitness for another term in office. The week was marked by calls for Biden to step down, concerns about his mental fitness, and a leaked internal poll showing him behind in swing states. Biden faced pressure from Democratic allies and major donors to consider stepping aside, as doubts about his candidacy grew<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2653,"featured_media":2289864,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/AP24187594487035.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[3620,34063,33566],"class_list":["post-2289863","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-biden","tag-democratic-dissension","tag-post-debate"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/AP24187594487035.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2289863","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2653"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2289863"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2289863\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2289864"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2289863"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2289863"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2289863"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}