REGION — Local Reps. Scott Peters (D-San Diego) and Mike Levin (D-San Juan Capistrano) have joined a growing group of Democrats calling on President Joe Biden to drop out of the presidential race.
Levin released a statement formally calling on Biden to step down as the nominee moments after he asked the president to drop out during the Congressional Hispanic Caucus’s July 12 call with the president.
Levin is the 19th and latest congressional Democrat to call for Biden’s withdrawal from the presidential race.
The day prior, Peters released his statement calling on Biden to step down moments after the president concluded a high-stakes briefing with reporters at the NATO Conference in Washington, D.C., which the White House had characterized as a “big-boy press conference” that would assuage fears about his age and mental acuity.
Those concerns arose after the president appeared to lack energy and lose his train of thought during a June 27 presidential debate against presumptive Republican nominee and former president, Donald Trump.
“Like so many of you, I was naturally concerned about President Biden’s performance in the recent debate,” Levin’s statement said. “Since then, I’ve made my opinions known in the appropriate manner with House Democratic leadership and my colleagues – and I called upon all Americans to give the President a window to make an expeditious decision about his candidacy.”
Levin continued, “In the two weeks since the debate, I’ve had a chance to connect with so many of you, our constituents and supporters. The response from literally several hundred of you has been overwhelming, and I’m very grateful for your candor.”
Levin represents the 49th congressional district, which covers much of north coastal San Diego County, including Camp Pendleton, Oceanside, Vista, Carlsbad, Encinitas, Solana Beach and Del Mar, as well as parts of south coastal Orange County, including San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, Dana Point and Laguna Niguel.
Levin and Peters praised Biden for his time in office.
“First, let me say that President Biden has been an outstanding leader, not only of our nation, but of the entire free world. Making this statement is not easy,” Levin’s statement said. “I have deep respect for President Biden’s five plus decades of public service and incredible appreciation for the work we’ve done together these last three and a half years. But I believe the time has come for President Bident to pass the torch.”
Peters acknowledged Biden for “saving” the country from a second Trump term in 2020 but noted that while his accomplishments are great, his reelection campaign will not be as successful now.
“The nation owes an enormous debt of gratitude to President Biden for saving us from a second term of a Trump Presidency in 2020 and for leading with his huge heart and a steady hand in challenging times,” Peters’ statement said. “His debate performance did not diminish his remarkable accomplishments and record of service. It’s now clear, however, that the president’s record of accomplishments will not translate into similar success in his reelection campaign.
“After a long primary process, we were on track to lose coming into the debate. The debate raised real concern among elected leaders, supporters, and voters that the president will not be able to wage a winning campaign. This was not a blip. And while the Biden campaign claims the post-debate national polls remain relatively unchanged, polling in the swing states has worsened alarmingly.”
Peters continued, “I ask President Biden to withdraw from the presidential campaign. The stakes are high, and we are on a losing course. My conscience requires me to speak up and put loyalty to the country and to democracy ahead of my great affection for and loyalty to the president and those around him.
Peters said Democrats need to find a new candidate to defeat Donald Trump.
“That means fielding a ticket that can win in the swing states where Democrats are not dominant but where this election will be decided,” Peters’ statement said. “The candidate must be selected through a fair and transparent process, and then, when we leave our convention next month in Chicago, we must rally together and fight like hell. I hope all Democrats will join me in putting the country first, preserving the progress of the past four years, and solidifying Joe Biden’s legacy as one of the great leaders of our time – by defeating Donald Trump.”
Levin echoed Peters’ push to stop Trump.
“We must prevail against the incalculable threat Donald Trump poses to the American institutions of freedom and democracy,” Levin’s statement said. “Donald Trump actively seeks a bleak authoritarianism and the overthrow of the values which have guided us towards justice and prosperity for nearly two and a half centuries. Once again, our national mettle must be forged in the crucible of history. It is time to move forward with a new leader together.”
As he has in multiple appearances since the debate, Biden dug in on July 11 on his determination to stay in the race.
“I’m not in this for my legacy,” Biden said. I’m in this to complete the job I started… My schedule has been full bore. So, if I slow down and can’t get the job done, that’s a sign that I shouldn’t be doing it. But there’s no indication of that yet – none.”
Biden, at times, made a forceful case for his candidacy, touting the record of his first term and what he characterized as the positive tone of the just-concluded NATO conference.
However, Biden also made two more verbal gaffes that did not go unnoticed. Near the top of the NATO news conference, he referred to Vice President Kamala Harris as “Vice President Trump” and introduced Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as “President Putin,” mixing him up with the president of Russia, which is at war with Ukraine. Biden quickly corrected that mistake.
As of July 12, 19 Democratic members of the House and one Democratic U.S. senator have called on Biden to withdraw.
Connecticut Rep. Jim Himes, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, joined Peters in calling on Biden to end his presidential campaign immediately after Thursday’s news conference.
Major Democratic Party donor and Hollywood actor George Clooney also said the president needs to step aside amid concerns about his age and ability to run the country. Clooney cited what he implied were signs of decline he witnessed during a record-setting Los Angeles fundraiser on June 15 for Biden with former President Barack Obama.
City News Service contributed to this report.
