Texas Democrat Rep. Lloyd Doggett, who represents a congressional district once held by Lyndon Johnson, has become the first sitting Democrat to make such a demand.
According to the Daily Mail, Doggett's call for Biden's withdrawal is rooted in his belief that the President should pave the way for a new generation of leaders. "Under very different circumstances, [Lyndon Johnson] made the painful decision to withdraw," Doggett said in a statement. "President Biden should do the same. While much of his work has been transformational, he pledged to be transitional."
Doggett, a respected member of the Democrat House caucus since 1995, emphasized that his call for Biden's withdrawal does not diminish his respect for the President's achievements. "He has the opportunity to encourage a new generation of leaders from whom a nominee can be chosen to unite our country through an open, democratic process," Doggett said. "Recognizing that, unlike Trump, President Biden's first commitment has always been to our country, not himself, I am hopeful that he will make the painful and difficult decision to withdraw. I respectfully call on him to do so."
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While other former Democrats and liberal pundits have speculated about Biden's ability to maintain the presidency through 2028, none have gone as far as Doggett in their calls for his withdrawal. Doggett, 77, praised Biden's work as President but conceded that his debate performance did not reflect that of a competitive candidate. "President Biden has continued to run substantially behind Democratic senators in key states and in most polls has trailed Donald Trump," he said. "I had hoped that the debate would provide some momentum to change that. It did not."
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Doggett's announcement has drawn criticism from the National Republican Congressional Committee Communications Director Jack Pandol, who accused the Democratic Caucus of cowardice. "The cowards in the Democratic Caucus have spent every day after the debate in witness protection, too afraid to say what they’re all thinking," Pandol said. "Americans remember House Democrats were complicit in covering up and gaslighting the public about the president’s condition, and voters are primed to punish them in November."
Doggett's call for Biden's withdrawal, while unprecedented, underscores the need for a fresh perspective in leadership.
