July 10, 2024 11:27 AM UTC

Senator Bennet Tells CNN that Joe Biden Can't Win in November

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• by: Colorado Pols

UPDATE: Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also seems to be pushing for Biden to exit the race.

From The New York Times:

Pelosi suggested on Wednesday that President Biden still could reconsider his decision to remain in the presidential race, the strongest public signal yet from a senior member of his party that the matter is not yet settled.

Despite mounting concerns that his candidacy could cost Democrats not only the White House but both chambers of Congress, Mr. Biden has been unequivocal about his intention to seek a second term, telling members of Congress in a letter on Monday that his mind is made up and “I’m firmly committed to staying in this race.” On Wednesday, Ms. Pelosi said on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” that the president should continue to weigh his options.

“It’s up to the president to decide if he is going to run,” she said. “We’re all encouraging him to to make that decision. Because time is running short.”

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Colorado Senator Michael Bennet sat down for a lengthy interview with CNN’s Kaitlan Collins on Tuesday night in which he laid out in very stark terms his belief that President Joe Biden cannot defeat former President Donald Trump in November — and that Biden’s campaign struggles could also cost Democrats both chambers in Congress.

From CNN:

Bennet on Tuesday became the first Democratic senator to publicly say he doesn’t believe President Joe Biden is capable of winning reelection after his disastrous debate performance last month.

“Donald Trump is on track, I think, to win this election, and maybe win it by a landslide, and take with him the Senate and the House,” he told CNN’s Kaitlan Collins. “So for me, this isn’t a question about polling. It’s not a question about politics. It’s a moral question about the future of our country.”

“The White House, in the time since that disastrous debate, I think, has done nothing to really demonstrate that they have a plan to win this election,” the Colorado Democrat said. [Pols emphasis]

Here’s that full interview:

Bennet said a number of interesting things during his 10-minute interview on CNN. While he never specifically called for Biden to withdraw from the race for President, Bennet said everything else to make that case.

On polling numbers:

“Joe Biden was 9 point up at this time the last time he was running. Hillary Clinton was 5 points up [at this point in 2016]. This is the first time in more than 20 years that a Republican candidate has been [ahead in the polls] at this point in the campaign…

…Today, as we’re sitting here, [Trump] is three and a half points ahead in the polls. He was ahead before President Biden had that very unfortunate debate, and the lead has been growing. And we have four months to figure out how we’re going to save the country from Donald Trump.”

On down-ballot concerns:

“I think that we could lose the whole thing. And it’s staggering to me. I mean, Donald Trump has already been President. I think he’s the worst President that we’ve ever had.”

On the danger of Trump:

“The stakes could not be higher. I believe that if we elect Donald Trump President again, my generation of Americans will be the first generation to leave less opportunity — not more — to the kids coming after us…

…We cannot let that happen, and we don’t have to let that happen. We have to defeat the malignant figure that is Donald Trump.”

On why he isn’t calling for Biden to drop out of the race:

“We’re all here this week to have this discussion and have this debate. I’m sure President Biden has a different view of his prospects in this election than I do, but we should be having a discussion about that. And the White House, in the time since that disastrous debate, I think has done nothing to really demonstrate that they have a plan to win this election…and they need to do that. They have to demonstrate that to the American people.”

On whether he could see himself calling for Biden to drop out:

“Look, I have no pleasure in being here tonight or just saying what I said in the caucus…

…This is something for the President really to consider. And I believe that those of us who are in these elected offices have a moral obligation to the people we represent…to do everything we can to make sure that their future is as bright as it could be. And if we just sit on our hands — if we say, ‘We’re going to disregard what is plainly in front of us, and plainly in front of the American people,’ and we end up electing Donald Trump again as President of the United States, that’s going to be a huge tragedy beyond epic proportion. And it’s something I can’t live with…[Pols emphasis]”

…That would be an American tragedy: If we lose the House, if we lose the Senate.”

On what he’s hearing from Colorado:

“The people I represent in Colorado have deep concerns about whether or not the President can win this race.”

When asked by Collins if Colorado could now be a swing state in the Presidential race, Bennet flatly stated, “I don’t think it will put Colorado in play.”

Bennet also demonstrated a very human and personal understanding of what it must be like to be in Biden’s shoes at the moment:

“I can understand how hard it would be, if I were Joe Biden, to sit there and to say to myself, ‘After all I’ve worked for and after all I’ve accomplished, after all of the extraordinary public service I’ve given to the American people’…it would be so hard to acknowledge that, after all of that, you’re in the race of your lifetime with somebody you can’t beat. I think that’s probably really hard for him to acknowledge. I think it’s really hard for the people who are working for him to acknowledge. I think they have a moral obligation to look themselves in the mirror and say…we’re sure that we’re going to be able to win this race.” [Pols emphasis]

Again, while Bennet did not specifically call on Biden to drop out of the race for President — he definitely sounds like he’s close to crossing that line. CNN reported earlier on Tuesday that Bennet was among three Senators at the Senate Democratic lunch — including Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown and Montana Sen. Jon Tester — to speak out saying that Biden is likely to lose in November.

Bennet confirmed to Collins on CNN that none of his fellow Senators specifically called for Biden to leave the race, but concerns are clearly growing. This morning, Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal spoke to reporters with a similar message, saying “I am deeply concerned about Joe Biden winning this November.” While Blumenthal then reiterated that he still supports Biden, he also seems to be calling on Biden to listen to their concerns and make his own decision to leave the race.

Whatever happens next, Bennet deserves some credit for taking the plunge to say out loud what many of his colleagues are no doubt thinking to themselves. These are difficult conversations…but they are necessary.