President Joe Biden’s solo press conference on Thursday did not stop calls for Democrats to consider alternatives, with Rep. Brad Schneider, D-Ill., urging Biden to step aside and Chicagoan Bruce Heyman, a former U.S. Ambassador to Canada, saying Biden is not “the most effective candidate” to beat former President Donald Trump.
Schneider said it was time for Biden to “pass the torch,” telling the Chicago Sun-Times before Biden’s evening press conference that he pretty much made up his mind last week. But before finalizing it, he wanted to check in with his Washington colleagues and constituents in his North Shore, northwest suburban 10th congressional district.
“We’ve been getting folks reaching out, whether it’s by email, letters and it’s running about 30 to one — people saying they love Joe Biden, but they wanted some change,” Schneider said.
Last Sunday, Schneider said, he met with about 100 supporters at the Original Bagel and Bialy in Buffalo Grove, and “every single person in that room was of a single mind except for one” that the party needed another presidential nominee. “What I’m hearing from folks (is) ‘we have to beat Donald Trump.”
In a statement released Thursday, Schneider said it was time for Biden “to heroically pass the torch to a new generation of leadership to guide us to the future he has enabled and empowered us to pursue.
“In passing the torch now, President Biden has a chance to live up to this standard and seal his place in history as one of the greatest leaders our nation, and history, has ever known. He can lead the transition of power to a new generation that can build a stronger party and a stronger nation.”
After the press conference, U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen, a freshman who represents a potential swing district anchored in northwest Illinois, became the third House Democrat from the state calling for Biden to drop his candidacy.
Sorensen said in a statement, “In 2020, Joe Biden ran for President with the purpose of putting country over party. Today, I am asking him to do that again.”
Illinois sends 14 Democrats to the House and so far, Schneider, Sorensen and Rep. Mike Quigley have called on Biden to quit the race. Biden is in the fight for this political life following his disastrous debate with former President Donald Trump.
As of now, 11 House Democrats reportedly have called for replacing Biden. In the Senate, only one Democrat, Sen. Peter Welch of Vermont said Biden has to go.
During the nearly hour-long press conference, Biden took unscripted questions from 11 reporters, most of which focused on his capacity to serve. He made a few flubs but delivered a workmanlike performance, especially on foreign policy issues. Biden was abundantly clear that he was not going to quit the race, saying “I’ve got to finish the job.”
Biden, despite his vow to stay in the race, is facing mounting pressure from Democrats.
I asked Schneider if Biden stepped down, would he back Vice President Kamala Harris as the nominee — and he did not offer unconditional support for Harris to lead the ticket. He refused to answer who should.
“We’ve got so many people who could pick up the mantle. You’ve got a vice president, who I believe could pick up the mantle and run” as well as governors from “California, Minnesota, Illinois, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Delaware.”
Still, Schneider did not call for an open process that could potentially be divisive. He said Biden, if he stepped down, would need to do it in a way “that is orderly and that will unite the party and not create a chaotic convention.”
Heyman, tapped by former President Barack Obama to be the ambassador to Canada, is also a major Democratic donor and fundraiser, as well as a board member of Chicago Public Media, the parent company of the Chicago Sun-Times.
Heyman is calling for an open process to pick a replacement for Biden if he steps down, rather than a scenario in which Democrats automatically pick Harris to lead the ticket.
In a statement posted on social media, before the Biden press conference, Heyman said, “While I deeply respect President Biden and acknowledge his significant accomplishments, recent events have raised concerns about his ability to effectively campaign for and serve another term.”
“… It’s become evident that many Americans, while wary of Trump, are not convinced that Biden is the most effective candidate to prevent his return to office.
“To ensure the best chance of maintaining Democratic control of the White House and Congress, we must consider alternative candidates for the 2024 presidential race. While Vice President Harris deserves respect, we should avoid automatically designating her as the nominee without a fair and robust selection process.”
Heyman proposes a “series of town halls, debates, and interviews to showcase these candidates, culminating in a convention in Chicago to select our nominee.”
Biden and Harris are set to be nominated virtually by Democratic delegates at the end of July — the date has not been set — in advance of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Aug. 19-22.
