U.S.
Mass. congressman Moulton says Biden needs to step aside for Democrats to win
Gloucester Daily Times
July 5, 2024
Representative Seth Moulton, D-Mass., attends a briefing on Oct. 1, 2019, in Danvers, Massachusetts. According to reports on Friday, July 5, 2024, Moulton is joining other Democrats in saying that President Joe Biden should step aside from his reelection campaign. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald/TNS)
BOSTON (Tribune News Service) — A week after President Joe Biden’s disastrous debate performance, U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton is joining those in saying the incumbent president should step aside from his campaign for reelection.
Moulton said Thursday on WBUR he isn’t confident Biden can beat former President Trump in the general election Nov. 5.
“President Biden has done enormous service to our country, but now is the time for him to follow in one of our founding father, George Washington’s footsteps and step aside to let new leaders rise up and run against Donald Trump,” Moulton said.
Moulton, D-Salem, is the third sitting member of Congress to publicly say Biden shouldn’t run again and the first in the all-Democratic Massachusetts delegation.
On Wednesday, Moulton released a statement questioning Biden’s ability to continue in the race and saying now is the time to let the new generation of Democrats lead the way.
“I’ve always said that America needs to elevate a new generation of leaders, and I respect those colleagues who have already spoken out. We should have all viable options on the table,” Moulton said in the statement.
On Thursday, Moulton said he is open to any political process that would select a successor to Biden and increase the party’s chances of retaining the White House.
“The exact mechanism that we should follow in order for other leaders to rise up, whether it’s some sort of primary process, whether it goes directly to Vice President (Kamala) Harris, I’m not sure about that, that’s yet to be determined,” Moulton told WBUR. “And that’s in many ways the substance of the deep, honest conversations that Democrats are having behind the scenes now and over the course of the past week.”
Moulton told WBUR he came to the realization after speaking with Democrats concerned that Trump has gained an advantage in the presidential race following Biden’s poor debate performance last week.
“That’s what’s most important,” he said. “We have to win.”
Gov. Maura Healey took part in a meeting between Biden and Democratic governors Wednesday night. Her office did not release a statement following the meeting.
Moulton joins two sitting House Democrats, Lloyd Doggett of Texas and Raul Grijalva of Arizona, who have publicly called for Biden to step aside, according to The Associated Press.
The Washington Post reported Thursday that 11 other members of Congress have raised concerns about Biden’s electability.
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