Two top House Democrats declined to say on Tuesday whether President Joe Biden should seek reelection, The Hill reports.
House Oversight Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney said during a primary debate on Tuesday that she doesn’t even think Biden would seek a second term.
“I don’t believe he’s running for reelection,” Maloney said despite Biden and the White House’s repeated insistence that he is running for reelection.
House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler, who is facing Maloney in an intra-party primary, said it was “too early to say.”
He argued it “doesn’t serve the purpose of the Democratic Party to deal with that until after the midterms.”
Both vow to support:
Maloney said after the debate that she would “absolutely” support Biden if he runs.
“I absolutely support President Biden,” Maloney said. “He has shown exemplary leadership, and I am thrilled by the historic legislation announced last week which makes investments to tackle climate change, lower healthcare costs and addresses inflation by requiring corporations to pay a 15% corporate minimum tax. If Biden chooses to run for President again, I absolutely intend to support him.”
Nadler said the question is a “distraction.”
“As I have said many times, I strongly support the President,” Nadler said. “My point in response to a yes or no question about the 2024 election was simply that a discussion about anything other then the historic midterm election this year is a distraction from our important work of keeping our House and Senate majorities and protecting our democracy.”
More Dems back away:
Minnesota Rep. Dean Phillips last week announced that he would not support Biden for a second term.
He called for a “new generation” of leaders, adding that “most of my colleagues” would agree.
Fellow Minnesota Rep. Angie Craig on Tuesday declined to say whether she would support Biden.
“I would say we need new leaders in Washington up and down the ballot in the Democratic Party,” she said.
The White House pushed back after Phillips’ comment.
“The president intends to run in 2024 — we are a ways away from 2024. We are going to continue to focus on doing the business of the American people, by delivering for families, by lowering costs for families, as we have seen,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said.
