A quiet pressure campaign is underway to push President Joe Biden’s formal nomination to begin as early as next week – a month before the party’s convention in Chicago – even as calls intensify within the highest ranks of the Democratic Party for Biden to reconsider his reelection bid.
There has been a push among some Biden allies to kick off the virtual roll call process as quickly as possible, three Democratic officials familiar with the discussions revealed. Two key Democratic committees have long been set to gather this coming Friday and Sunday to discuss the exact timeline for delegates across the country to start casting their votes. The earliest that voting could begin would be after the second meeting on Sunday.
Democrats have been planning for weeks to conclude the nomination process before August 7 – well before the Chicago convention next month. But still, if voting were to begin Sunday or soon thereafter, that would mark an aggressive timeline and draw fresh scrutiny from other Democrats eager for Biden to acknowledge his challenges and step aside.
The DNC virtual roll call process was initially put in place for the party to step around an issue in Ohio that threatened to leave Biden off the ballot in that state. Lawmakers in Ohio have since passed a law to make that issue moot, but the DNC has pointed to the potential of a legal challenge by Ohio Republicans for moving forward with the virtual roll call anyway.
For Democrats who are afraid Biden will lose to Donald Trump and take the Democratic ticket down with him, time is running out to make their case to the president, his family and a remarkably tight circle of advisers. But even as those entreaties are being made daily behind the scenes, plans are being made to solidify his standing with the help of party rules in the Democratic convention process.
Rep. Jared Huffman, a progressive Democrat from California, expressed concern about the virtual roll call vote, calling it a “terrible idea” and a “dumb thing.” Huffman emphasized the need for action, stating, “If the election were held today, he would get crushed. We have got to do something about it.”
Another House Democrat echoed similar sentiments, highlighting widespread disbelief at the expedited nomination process and the potential consequences for the Democratic Party.
The ongoing debate within the Democratic Party has led to a draft letter circulating among Democratic House members and other delegates, calling for a slowdown in the nomination process. The letter questions the justification for accelerating the nomination process and emphasizes the need for careful consideration and debate about Biden’s future.
In an interview, Biden pointed to the primary voters who supported him as a sign of his resilience following recent challenges. However, questions about Biden’s candidacy have intensified, leading to concerns among delegates about the nomination process and the Ohio law that prompted the DNC to move forward with a roll call before the Chicago convention.
As the Democratic Party grapples with internal divisions and calls for Biden to reconsider his candidacy, the DNC proceeding with the original plan has sparked frustration and raised concerns about the party’s unity and morale. The looming deadline for Biden to decide on his candidacy has further heightened tensions within the party.
While some influential Democrats have set the official start of the mid-August party convention as the deadline for Biden to make a decision, others are advocating for a more deliberate approach to address the uncertainties surrounding Biden’s campaign.
In the midst of these developments, Rep. Huffman emphasized the need for open discussion and careful consideration of the party’s next steps, warning against prematurely shutting down debate on the Democratic ticket. The draft letter reflects the diverse views within the Democratic Party and underscores the importance of maintaining unity and morale during a critical period.
