First Sitting Democrat Lawmaker Calls On Biden To Withdraw

Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) has become the first sitting Democratic Party lawmaker to openly call for President Biden to withdraw from the presidential race, following his weak debate performance.

• Doggett said in a statement: "I had hoped that the debate would provide some momentum to [improve Biden's underperformance]. It did not. Instead of reassuring voters, the President failed to effectively defend his many accomplishments and expose Trump's many lies.
• "Too much is at stake to risk a Trump victory - too great a risk to assume that what could not be turned around in a year, what was not turned around in the debate, can be turned around now.
• "I represent the heart of a congressional district once represented by Lyndon Johnson. Under very different circumstances, he made the painful decision to withdraw. President Biden should do the same....I am hopeful that he will make the painful and difficult decision to withdraw. I respectfully call on him to do so.”
• Doggett's statement comes shortly after an MSNBC interview by former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) in which she appeared to hint that Biden should withdraw. Until now, calls for Biden's withdrawal have remained confined to the media and former officials. Doggett's statement could precipitate a wave of similar calls, which would be far more difficult for the White House to ignore.
• We noteda short time ago that Biden is set to meet with Democratic Party governors tomorrow, who likely have the most weight to influence Biden's decision.