(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — A leading Democrat in Chicago is weighing in on whether the President should stay in his re-election race.
North Side Congressman Mike Quigley (D-5th) said it's tough to think about having to replace President Joe Biden.
“It doesn't give us any joy to do this. It's unprecedented. It's a scary time frankly, but we have to move forward.”
Quigley is not pressuring the president to get out of the race. Instead, he's trying to handle it with more grace.
“So for me, I thought the best way to approach this out of respect was just to advise the President that he should take some time to think about this and understand the implications for races beyond the White House.”
Specifically, Quigley said the president has to think about all of the down-ballot races and how his continued candidacy might negatively impact them.
In addition, Quigley says the president needs to know it's not just about him
“Weigh this now and the implications, not just for you and your family and your health, but for the chances of winning in November given what I would say is catastrophic aspects of a second term for Trump.”
Later on Wednesday, Biden vowed to keep running for reelection.
“Let me say this as clearly as I possibly can as simply and straightforward as I can: I am running … no one’s pushing me out," Biden said on a call with staffers from his reelection campaign. "I’m not leaving. I’m in this race to the end and we’re going to win.”
The president was pulling every possible lever to try to salvage his reelection campaign — talking to top legislators, pumping up his campaign staff and meeting later in the day with Democratic governors before a planned weekend blitz of travel and a network TV interview.
(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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