Sen. John Fetterman slammed former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for implying that President Joe Biden should drop out of the presidential race, The Hill reported. The Pennsylvania Democrat rushed to Biden's defense as more Democrats have abandoned the president.
There has been much in-fighting in the Democratic Party over what to do about Biden. His abysmal debate performance against former President Donald Trump last month has left many calling to replace Biden as the presidential nominee.
Pelosi was less direct than some others have been by only implying that he should reconsider his position. During an appearance on Morning Joe earlier this week, she lobbed her subtle attack.
"It’s up to the president to decide if he’s going to run. We’re all encouraging him to make that decision because time is running short," the California Democrat said.
Biden already said in a letter Monday that he was unequivocally committed to staying in the race. "I want you to know that despite all the speculation in the press and elsewhere, I am firmly committed to staying in this race, to running this race to the end, and to beating Donald Trump," Biden said.
In light of that commitment, Pelosi's comments incensed Fetterman as she failed to back Biden's reelection bid. He blasted Pelosi for telling Biden to "make that decision" even after the president dug his heels in.
Why is Sen. John Fetterman sticking with Biden? “He’s the only person to ever beat Trump’s ass in an election,” he tells @ErinBurnett pic.twitter.com/iHAmqm1nc2
— Erin Burnett OutFront (@OutFrontCNN) July 11, 2024
"I would say, as far as I know, she’s never run for any office outside of the House, and she’s never run for the president, and she’s certainly never won that, as well. He has already made his decision," Fetterman said to CNN’s Erin Burnett Wednesday.
"He is staying in this race, and he’s going to take this through to the convention and to November, and I’m going to back him on that. If I have any advice for Joe Biden, stay in if that’s what you believe, and I have his back 100 percent," Fetterman added.
Even with Fetterman on his side, it seems Biden's candidacy is in a tailspin that he cannot recover from. The most recent blow to his reelection hopes came from another painful performance at a solo news conference Thursday.
Three more lawmakers added to the growing list calling on Biden to step down following the conference and his earlier missteps at the NATO summit, NBC News reported. One of those was Rep. Scott Peters (D-CA) who said he was afraid Democrats could not win with Biden at the top of the ticket.
"Today, I ask President Biden to withdraw from the presidential campaign. The stakes are high, and we are on a losing course," Peters said in a statement Friday.
"My conscience requires me to speak up and put loyalty to the country and to democracy ahead of my great affection for, and loyalty to, the President and those around him. We must find a candidate from our deep bench of talent who can defeat Donald Trump," Peters added.
The Democrats are in big trouble with Biden remaining in the race, and Pelosi is correct to be concerned about that. Fetterman's loyalty is admirable, but there is almost no path to victory if Biden doesn't do the right thing for his party and step aside.
