Biden, already the oldest American president in history, faced only token opposition during the party’s months-long nominating contest, and he has secured enough support to guarantee his spot as the Democratic nominee.
Former President Trump likewise overcame his intra-party challengers early in the year, setting the stage for a long and bitter general election fight.
Three columnists from the New York Times’ left-leaning opinion section called on Biden to drop out of the race.
One Biden donor, who asked for anonymity, called his performance “disqualifying” and predicted that some Democrats would revisit calls for him to step aside.
That would give the party time to pick another nominee at its national convention, which starts on Aug 19 – a potentially messy process that could pit Kamala Harris, the nation’s first Black female vice president, against governors and other officeholders whose names have been floated as possible replacements.
“If he made this decision, it’s important that we use it to our advantage,” Democratic Representative Katie Porter said at a conference in Colorado.
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