Many Wealthy Donors Are Turning Away from Biden
Celebrity supporters have declared they will not back Democrats again unless there is a change in nominee. Joe Biden now needs a prime-time editorial strike.
And also on National Day: Jill Biden is an important advisor to her husband.
Photo: AFP
President Joe Biden is now under pressure from key Democratic donors to his reelection campaign. A number of donors have publicly stated that they will withhold funds if Biden is not replaced as the party’s nominee. They include Abigail Disney, heiress to the Disney fortune, Hollywood agent Ari Emanuel, Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings, philanthropist Karla Govertson and businessman Gideon Stein.
Abigail Disney said her intention was to be “realistic, not reckless.” Biden is a good man who has served the country admirably. But: “If Biden doesn’t resign, the Democrats will lose. The consequences of that defeat would be truly terrible.” So Ari Emanuel hopes more Democratic donors will shun Biden. “The lifeblood of the campaign is money, and maybe the only way to do that is to dry up the money,” he told the paper. “The New York Times”.
According to the newspaper, there is already a lobbying group of wealthy Democrats led by cryptocurrency billionaire Mike Novogratz, which, under the name Next Generation Pac, is trying to gain influence on Wall Street and Silicon Valley in order to raise between $50 million and $100 million for Biden's candidate to gather alternative candidates.
Biden: 'I'm not going anywhere'
Meanwhile, the US president is trying to sound confident amid the heated debate on the campaign trail over his possible withdrawal. “I’m not going anywhere,” Biden said at a barbecue for active-duty military personnel on the White House lawn for Independence Day celebrations. One supporter had previously shouted: “Keep fighting! We need them!”
Biden wants to give a TV interview on Friday to dispel doubts about his suitability. It will be broadcast in prime time (2 a.m. Swiss time on Saturday evening). He will have to speak freely during the interview. During his national holiday appearances, as in almost all of his appearances, Biden has largely been reading from a teleprompter, but he has repeatedly been disoriented.
Thumb in a Tight Position: Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris greet from the White House balcony on National Day.
Tierney Cross (Eba) Photos
Reports: Biden wants to limit evening appointments
Biden’s health and the question of whether he is still fit enough to hold office have been a recurring theme in recent months. Now new reports are making waves. According to media reports, Biden said in a conversation with state governors that he needs to sleep more and work less. That also means limiting his participation in events after 8 p.m.
CNN reported that Biden's comments frustrated some governors. US media had previously written that Biden often no longer appears particularly fit, especially in the evening, and that the risk of slips of the tongue is particularly high on such dates. The televised debate with Trump a week ago also took place in the evening.
Trump challenges Biden again
Trump is exploiting his current opponent’s weakness for his own ends. In recent days, the pugnacious Republican has been noticeably reserved. Now, the 78-year-old has said that Biden’s incompetence will be evident in another debate. “Let’s have another debate, this time without the taboos — a debate where just the two of us sit on a stage and talk about the future of our country,” he wrote on his Truth Social page.
A second televised duel is scheduled for September, after the Democratic convention in Chicago in August. Biden is actually supposed to be formally nominated there. He has already collected the necessary delegates in the primaries. It is now unclear whether he can continue to withstand the pressure within his party—or whether he will cave in.
Newsom: “Don’t fall victim to this negativity.”
Biden again received support from California Governor Gavin Newsom. At an Independence Day outing in Michigan hosted by Biden’s campaign and the White House, he assured the Democrats in attendance that the 81-year-old president has what it takes to win a second term in November and to govern effectively. “This is a dangerous moment in American history. It’s not complicated,” Newsom said. “I have to convince you not to be fatalistic, not to fall victim to all this negativity. (…) Do more, worry less.” Newsom is a key Biden supporter but is also seen as a potential replacement candidate if the 81-year-old withdraws his bid.
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