(WBBM NEWSRADIO) - Governor Pritzker, back from Washington, says President Biden is ready to be the nominee this year, but another influential Illinois Democrat disagrees.
Pritzker, saying Biden was engaged during a meeting with Democratic governors last month, said the President needs to convince America he simply had a bad night at that debate, nothing more.
"I think that President Biden, and I've said this, he needs to go out there and answer all the questions, and he needs to show people that he is the leader of the free world and that he is doing a heck of a job in showing the U.S. is leading us,” said Pritzker. “We have a lot of enemies in the world, and it is going to take a tough, strong, smart, and principled leader. And that's what Joe Biden is."
Pritzker predicts while some Democrats are urging the president to bow out, the party will unite at the convention. because, Pritzker said, Donald Trump must be stopped.
Meanwhile, Illinois Congressman Michael Quigley still believes Biden should step aside.
Quigley said the qualities that helped Joe Biden win the White House four years ago: his strength, toughness and pride, are the things holding Democrats back now.
A House Democratic Caucus meeting, which he won’t discuss in detail, hasn’t changed his mind.
“He can’t be the nominee,” Quigley said. “It’s not just because he opens the door to the specter of a second Trump term, it’s that this has a tremendous impact on down-ballot races.”
Quigley said the House and Senate are controlled by narrow margins, and the top of the ticket isn’t doing well. He believes it’s a formula for a red wave.
“As tough as all this is, this isn’t about loyalty or friendship, this is pragmatic politics, and what I see is the future of our democracy,” Quigley said.
Quigley knows things look chaotic now, but he said there are procedures for replacing a presidential candidate, a deep Democratic bench and time to act.
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