TUCSON, Ariz. — Raul Grijalva has become the second House Democrat to call on President Joe Biden to leave the presidential race, according to a report from the New York Times.
Grijalva said he supports Biden but now is an "opportunity to look elsewhere," according to the report.
"What he needs to do is shoulder the responsibility for keeping that seat-- and part of that responsibility is to get out of this race," Grijalva told the newspaper.
The Democratic president has signaled he has no intention of dropping out of the race against Donald Trump despite the halting and uneven debate delivery that threw a spotlight on questions about Biden's age and capacity to be president. But as Democrats make the case the stakes of the election are momentous — challenging no less than the foundations of American democracy — they're wrestling with how to approach the 81-year-old who's supposed to be leading the charge for their party.
Rep. Lloyd Doggett, of Texas, on Tuesday became the first sitting Democrat in Congress to call for Biden to withdraw from the race. He praised Biden but said 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.”
“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,” said Doggett, who's 77.
Some other congressional Democrats have moved in recent days to outspoken concern not just over Biden’s performance during the 90-minute debate last week but also the level of transparency Biden’s team has offered about his mental fitness. They've tiptoed toward embracing the idea Biden should withdraw.
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