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2024 election live updates: Bernie Sanders calls on Dems 'to stop the bickering'

Sanders expressed his support for Biden in a New York Times guest essay.

President Joe Biden is facing a critical point in his reelection bid as Democratic calls for him to exit the 2024 race continue to mount despite his efforts to shut them down.

A poor debate performance against Donald Trump reignited questions about Biden's age and fitness to carry out his campaign and serve another four years. Biden has defiantly insisted he is staying the course, telling lawmakers this week he is not going anywhere.

Biden held his first news conference since the debate Thursday evening -- taking multiple questions about his political future.


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Post-press conference, House Dem Rep. Scott Peters calls on Biden to step aside

Not long after the conclusion of President Joe Biden's first solo press conference in eight months, California's House Dem Rep. Scott Peters is calling for Biden to leave the race.

After praising the president for "saving us from a second term of a Trump Presidency in 2020 and for leading with his huge heart and a steady hand in challenging times," Peters said he does not believe that Biden's record would "translate into similar success in his reelection campaign."

Peters said the Democrats were already down in the polls before the debate, and Biden's performance during the event, "raised real concern among elected leaders, supporters, and voters that the President will not be able to wage a winning campaign. This was not a blip. And while the Biden campaign claims the post-debate national polls remain relatively unchanged, polling in the swing states has worsened alarmingly.

"Today I ask President Biden to withdraw from the presidential campaign," Peters continued. "The stakes are high, and we are on a losing course. My conscience requires me to speak up and put loyalty to the country and to democracy ahead of my great affection for, and loyalty to, the President and those around him."


Democratic Rep. Jim Himes calls on Biden to 'step away' after NATO press conference

Following Biden's press conference, Connecticut Democratic Rep. Jim Himes released a statement calling on Biden to "step away from the presidential campaign."

Himes serves as the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee.

"The 2024 election will define the future of American democracy, and we must put forth the strongest candidate possible to confront the threat posed by Trump's MAGA authoritarianism," Himes said.


Biden ends 50-minute q and a with a shot at Trump

Biden ended his unscripted q and a portion of his news conference, which lasted 50 minutes, taking a question about a Truth Social post made by Trump during the press conference.

The former president mocked Biden's age and memory for a gaffe early on where he said Vice President Trump instead of Harris.

When asked how he would combat that criticism, Biden smiled and said "Listen to him," before walking off the stage.

Later, Biden's campaign posted a screenshot of Trump's post on X and with the statement "By the way: Yes, I know the difference. One’s a prosecutor, and the other’s a felon."


Biden: No poll says there's 'no way' he can win

Toward the end of the presser, when asked if he would reconsider staying in the race if his team showed him data that showed Vice President Kamala Harris would fare better against Trump, Biden said: "No, unless they came back and said, There is no way you could win."

He continued in a whisper, "No one’s saying that. No poll says that."