Vt. Democrats join national debate over Biden stepping aside
Jul 03, 2024
BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) - Vermont was the first state in 2020 to be called for President Joe Biden and it delivered his widest margin of victory. But many Vermont Democrats have joined the growing national chorus over whether he should stay in the race following last week’s dismal debate performance.There are deep reflections in what has been called the bluest state in the country about whether the 81-year-old president is the right candidate to take on Donald Trump in November.“We need to have an honest assessment of where we are, with the objective being keeping Donald Trump out of office. We need to serve the country, not the party,” Senator Peter Welch said during a stop in southern Vermont Tuesday.Congresswoman Becca Balint says whether it’s Biden or another candidate at the top of the ticket, the stakes are too high to have another Trump presidency. “I’m all in for that candidate because I don’t want a demagogue,” she said.Former President Trump was also criticized after the debate for lying on stage about January 6th, the economy, and more. But Biden’s performance has some party faithful split on whether he should drop out.“Logistically, I think there are too many hurdles to having that conversation,” said Vermont Democratic Party executive director Jim Dandeneau. He says Democrats should slow their roll and wait for more polling data to come in. “From the public polling that’s been made available from the debate, we haven’t seen a ton of movement and what we have seen comes from Democrats who say we could do better with someone else.”Alex MacLean, the President of Strategic Communications at Leonine Public Affairs and former chief of staff for Governor Peter Shumlin, says Biden should drop out and open the convention for another candidate to step in. “I think the damage has been done and I would like to see him withdraw and a next-generation leader come up and take his place,” she said. “You would see an incredible amount of energy volunteering and money pouring out of people with excitement.”Big decisions underway for Democrats in a pivotal election year where Vermont will send its 24 delegates to the national convention next month.