Biden seeks support in Pennsylvania as calls for him to step down grow

“Never ignore Joseph”

In Philadelphia, congregants at Mount Airy Christian Church gave Biden a warm welcome. Bishop Louis Felton praised him as “a man of vision and integrity.”

Referring to Biden’s Republican challenger but not naming him, the bishop rebuked those who “make a fuss about the president — that he has a habit of stuttering and sometimes can’t speak — and this other guy is able to spout lies and you never refute his lies.”

“Never underestimate Joseph,” Felton exclaimed. “Come on, Joseph, you can do it.”

“We have to unite America again. That’s what I’m going to do,” Biden said in a more than six-minute speech to the congregation.

Philadelphia resident Kara Green said she hopes Biden feels supported, adding: “We believe he’s the right person for the job.”

Biden said in an interview with ABC News on Friday that only “God Almighty” could convince him to withdraw, and rejected the possibility that Democratic leaders might join forces to persuade him to withdraw.

Alan Clendenin, a Florida Democratic National Committeeman, joined the chorus of people calling for Biden to step down on Sunday.

“Joe Biden will be remembered by historians as one of the best presidents in American history, but this election is about the next four years, not the last three and a half years,” Clendenin said.

The Democratic National Committee has remained steadfast in its support for Biden since his debate setback, so any defections could mean a deepening crisis. DNC Chairman Jaime Harrison said Sunday that Biden remains the party’s nominee.

“The primary is over,” he said.

Critical State

After the service, Biden stopped at his local campaign headquarters and told supporters there, “Pennsylvania is a critical state.”

Democratic Senator John Fetterman, who spoke with Biden, shouted: “There is only one person in this country who has ever defeated Trump in an election, and that’s your president.”

Biden also met briefly with Pennsylvania Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro.

Pennsylvania, along with Wisconsin and Michigan, is one of six states that could swing the Democratic and Republican showdown and is expected to determine the outcome of the tight race.

Sunday’s trip was Biden’s 10th visit to Pennsylvania during the 2024 campaign and is part of the Democratic Party’s July voter outreach campaign, which also includes a $50 million media campaign targeting events such as the Olympics and travel by the president, the first lady, Harris and her husband to several battleground states.

Pressure on Congress is expected to increase in the coming days as lawmakers return to Washington from their holidays and donors consider whether they want to continue funding Biden’s campaign.

Biden is also preparing to host dozens of world leaders at a NATO summit in Washington this week and hold a rare solo press conference.

Five U.S. lawmakers have publicly called on Biden to abandon his re-election bid, including Minnesota Rep. Angie Craig, the first Democrat from a battleground district to run in the House of Representatives, and others are said to be preparing to join the call.

House Democratic sources say two letters are circulating among House Democrats calling for Biden to step down.

U.S. Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia invited other senators to a meeting on Monday to discuss Biden’s campaign.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, 82, who ran for the Democratic presidential nomination, stood firmly in Biden’s camp on Sunday, saying the Democratic Party’s focus should be on policy.