The Democratic National Committee may nominate President Joe Biden this month amid concerns within the party about his mental health, according to a report.
Members of the DNC are considering formally nominating Biden during a virtual meeting on July 21, Bloomberg reported.
Party leaders had previously planned to nominate Biden to be the party’s presidential candidate before the Democratic National Convention on August 19 in order to meet the August 7 deadline for being placed on the ballot in Ohio.
The potentially expedited nomination would come as Biden faces criticism from within his party and the legacy media over concerns about the 81-year-old president’s mental health. Several major Democratic donors reportedly panicked after Biden’s debate performance last week.
According to a Morning Consult survey released after the debate, only 37% of voters believe Biden is mentally fit for office, reported the New York Post.
“Look. This debate was a total and complete disaster for Biden. He looked old. His answers trailed off repeatedly. He was hard to understand. He would stop in mid-sentence and move on to something else. I NEVER thought he would be this bad. Stunning. Truly,” journalist Chris Cillizza tweeted.
The New York Times editorial board has called on the president to step aside and not seek re-election.
“The president appeared on Thursday night as the shadow of a great public servant. He struggled to explain what he would accomplish in a second term. He struggled to respond to Mr. Trump’s provocations. He struggled to hold Mr. Trump accountable for his lies, his failures, and his chilling plans. More than once, he struggled to make it to the end of a sentence,” wrote the editorial board.
However, several Democratic leaders rallied in support of the president after initial concerns following the debate, CNBC reported.
“Joe Biden should continue to run on his record. I do believe that we will find him when contrasted with the record of the four years of Trump to be exactly what we need going forward,” Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-SC) said on Sunday, per CNBC.
“Bad debate nights happen. Trust me, I know. But this election is still a choice between someone who has fought for ordinary folks his entire life and someone who only cares about himself,” former President Barack Obama tweeted Friday.
“Between someone who tells the truth; who knows right from wrong and will give it to the American people straight — and someone who lies through his teeth for his own benefit,” he continued. “Last night didn’t change that, and it’s why so much is at stake in November.”
Biden campaigned in New York and New Jersey over the weekend following the presidential debate.
The Republican National Convention to nominate former President Donald Trump begins on July 15 in Milwaukee.