Top contributors to President Joe Biden’s re-election bid are inquiring about having their campaign donations refunded after the 81-year-old chief executive delivered a meandering and tottering performance at his first 2024 election debate with Donald Trump last week.
During the 90-minute session at CNN’s studios in Atlanta last week, Biden had trouble forming coherent answers to questions at times and on several occasions lost his train of thought. In doing so, he realized the worst fears of allies and supporters who have, until now, pushed back on allegations that the oldest man to ever serve as president is simply too old to serve another four-year term.
Biden campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez told donors in a private campaign call over the weekend that over $33 million had been raised in the days since the debate, with hundreds of new applications from potential volunteers coming in as well.
According to NBC News, one participant on the donor call said many of those who dialed in “are frightened” in the wake of Biden’s disappointing performance.
“There were some tough comments from those on the call. Some were upset that they are just hearing campaign talking points,” the participant said.
They added that some Biden donors have gone so far as to ask about getting their money back.
Over the weekend, calls for Biden to stand down have come from top newspapers and some prominent supporters of the 46th president.
🚨🇺🇸BREAKING: 1ST DEMOCRATIC REP. OFFICIALLY CALLS FOR BIDEN TO STEP DOWN
Rep. Lloyd Doggett:
“My decision to make these strong reservations public is not done lightly nor does it in any way diminish my respect for all that President Biden has achieved.
Recognizing that,… pic.twitter.com/jpuAuPJjR3
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) July 2, 2024
🚨𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬:
Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) becomes the first sitting House Democrat to publicly call for President Joe Biden to drop out of the presidential race.Doggett touted Biden’s record but stressed that “𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐀𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞… pic.twitter.com/ls3fYQg36x
— RedWave Press (@RedWave_Press) July 2, 2024
Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) just called on Joe Biden to step aside from the 2024 race.
Doggett is the first Democrat congressman to do so.pic.twitter.com/DFGRRneBA7
— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) July 2, 2024
Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) becomes the 1st sitting Democratic lawmaker to call on President Biden to withdraw from 2024 presidential race following his disastrous debate performance last Thursday pic.twitter.com/BlCXCWllsn
— Mona Salama (@ByMonaSalama) July 2, 2024