Democratic Reps. Schneider and Sorensen urge President Biden to drop out of race for White House
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Two more Democratic Illinois congressmen on Thursday urged President Joe Biden to drop out of the race for the White House in the wake of his debate performance last month.
U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider, whose district includes mostly northern suburbs of Chicago, and U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen, whose district stretches from Bloomington and Peoria in central Illinois to Davenport along the Iowa border and Rockford in north Central Illinois, both issued statements calling on Biden to step aside and let someone else become the Democratic nominee for president.
They join U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley, of Chicago, as the first three congressional Democrats from Illinois to call on the president not to seek re-election in November. At least 16 House Democrats have called on Biden to exit the race.
Schneider said he believes Biden is "one of our greatest presidents," but believes it's time for him to "secure his legacy and boldly deliver the nation to a new generation of leadership."
"I love President Biden. I am forever grateful for his leadership and service to our nation. The time has come, however, for President Biden to heroically pass the torch to a new generation of leadership to guide us to the future he has enabled and empowered us to pursue," Schneider said in a statement.
In a post on X, Sorensen said he believes Biden needs to put his country over his party.
"It is more important than ever that our neighbors have a candidate for President who will communicate a positive vision for every person in this country. Someone who can demonstrate the strength and wisdom needed to lead us through the worst storms. A leader who will stand up to the present threats against Democracy," he wrote. "Every day, I remain committed to the people of Central & Northwestern Illinois. I believe our best days are still ahead. And today, I am hopeful President Biden will step aside in his campaign for President."
"He can't win, and my colleagues need to recognize that"
Quigley has gone on record multiple times saying he does not believe Biden can beat Trump in November in the wake of his poor debate performance against Trump last month, and the growing questions about his health and ability to serve another four-year term.
"The fighting spirit and pride and courage that served the country so well four years ago, helped Joe Biden win, will bring the ticket down this time. He just has to step down because he can't win, and my colleagues need to recognize that," Quigley said on Tuesday.
While Schneider and Sorensen did not say specifically that they believe Biden can't win in November, Schneider suggested it will be difficult for Biden to defeat Trump.
"We are faced with a stark choice: be resigned to slog through this election praying we can successfully defend our democracy, or enthusiastically embrace a vibrant vision for our future, building on the extraordinary foundation President Biden has created for our nation over the past four years," he said.
Calling Trump "an absolute threat to the very core of our nation," Schneider said the former president is a threat to democracy, national security, the economy, and women's reproductive rights.
Schneider said, by stepping aside now, Biden "can lead the transition of power to a new generation that can build a stronger party and a stronger nation. I fear if he fails to make the right choice, our democracy will hang in the balance."
Neither Quigley, Schneider, nor Sorensen has said who should run in Biden's place.
Biden says "I'm in this to complete the job I started."
On Thursday evening, President Biden ended the NATO Summit in Washington by fielding questions from reporters—which centered around his fitness to lead if he gets another four years.
"I'm not in this for my legacy," Mr. Biden said. "I'm in this to complete the job I started."
At the news conference, the president, asked whether his delegates could vote for someone else, said they were "free to do whatever they want."
"If they say they want somebody else, that's the Democratic process," he said, adding in a whisper that "it's not going to happen."
The president has acknowledged he had what he says was a "bad night" at the debate and he has been trying to prove he can be the nominee and defeat former President Donald Trump.
"I'm surrounded by good docs," Mr. Biden said. "If they think there's a problem, I promise you—or even if they don't think it's a problem—they think I should have a neurological exam again, I'll do it. But nobody is suggesting that."
But when talking to reporters about Vice President Kamala Harris, Mr. Biden mistakenly referred to her as "Vice President Trump." He later corrected himself on social media.
Earlier in an event before the press conference, he introduced Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as "President Putin," to the shock of other world leaders.
"I don't think the press conference changed any minds," Schneider said.
On Thursday night, Schneider was asked why he had decided now to call publicly for Mr. Biden to step aside.
"I had drawn my conclusions last weekend," Schneider said. "What I heard from my constituents, the concerns I heard from my colleagues, it is clear that passing the torch is an opportunity that will put us in a far better position."
Illinois Democrats divided over support for Biden's re-election bid
Other top Democrats in Illinois have continued to support Biden as the party's nominee.
U.S. Reps. Jonathan Jackson, Robin Kelly, Sean Casten, Danny Davis, and Jan Schakowsky all have expressed continued support of the president.
"I think the president has made it clear—unequivocally, and without a doubt—that he's in it to win it," said Davis. "Joe has integrity. Trump has none. Biden all the way."
However, when asked if he had concerns about Mr. Biden being on the ticket, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Illinois) said this week, "Of course I do."
"And I think that he's trying to address those directly by the style and the nature of his campaign," Durbin said. "I think he's aware of the fact that what happened to that debate was disastrous. "
When asked what his specific concerns were, Durbin said, "Concerns is whether or not that was a one-off situation, or there is more to the issue."
Pritzker caught on hot mic saying, "I don't like where we are."
Gov. JB Pritzker, who has been floated as a potential replacement for Biden on the ticket if the president were to drop out, has continued to support Biden, and declined to say if he would run if Biden doesn't.
"I'm supporting Joe Biden and Kamala Harris for president," he said earlier this week. "I'm going to work my tail off to make sure that they win."
Pritzker also has said Biden has an opportunity to redeem himself at the NATO Summit on Thursday.
"I think that President Biden—and I've said this—he needs to go out there and answer all the questions, and he needs to show people that he's the leader of the free world, and that he's doing a heck of a job of making sure that the United States is leading us," Pritzker said at a news conference Tuesday. "And we have a lot of enemies in the world, and it is going to take a tough, strong, smart, and principled leader. That's what Joe Biden is."
However, on Wednesday a hot microphone at an unrelated event caught Pritzker making what appeared to be a remark about the state of the presidential race.
"I mean, we're just going to keep fighting. I don't know what to say. You know, got to do what we have to do," Pritzker was heard saying to a man at the event. "I don't like where we are, but..."
Jordan Abudayyeh, deputy chief of communications for Gov. Pritzker's office, said it "sounds like [Pritzker] was talking about the state of the presidential race."
