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2024 election updates: Manchin the latest to call on Biden to end reelection bid

PHOTO: Sen. Joe Manchin is questioned by reporters about the candidacy of President Joe Biden, in the U.S. Capitol, on July 8, 2024, in Washington, D.C.
2:37
Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
Biden aides huddle amid calls to exit
By Alexandra Hutzler, Ivan Pereira, Meredith Deliso, Leah Sarnoff
Last Updated: July 18, 2024, 7:17 PM

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

A poor debate performance against Donald Trump in June reignited questions about Biden's age and fitness to carry out his campaign and serve another four years. While Biden defiantly insisted he was staying the course, he later announced on July 21 that he was dropping out of the 2024 presidential race.

Click here for the latest live updates on the 2024 election.

MORE: Read President Joe Biden's full letter announcing he's leaving 2024 race

Latest headlines:

  • Joe Manchin calls on Biden to end reelection bid
  • Donors furious on call with Harris and voter outreach organizers: Sources
  • 2 more Democratic House members join calls for Biden to end campaign
  • 'I look forward to getting back on the campaign trail next week': Biden
Here's how the news is developing:

Jul 18, 2024 7:17 PM

Top Biden aide: Biden 'preparing to hit the campaign trail again next week'

As President Biden faces mounting calls from prominent Democrats to drop out of the race, a member of his inner circle flatly denied reports that the president is now more open to the idea of ending his campaign.

"Anyone who has talked to Joe Biden in the last 24 hours can tell you that is not true," the senior White House official, who has spoken to Biden today, told ABC News.

The official said nothing has changed regarding Biden's candidacy and the campaign, with the exception that COVID is keeping him home.

"He is going to win the nomination and then the party is going to need to unite," the official said.

The senior official expressed anger and frustration at the criticism Biden is taking from fellow Democrats, acknowledging that the calls for the president to drop out have taken a toll and will likely cause further erosion in the polls.

This official also told ABC News that reports to the contrary are coming out of Congress, and not from those who truly know the mindset of the president.

"He is preparing to hit the campaign trail again next week," the official said.

-ABC News' Jonathan Karl


Jul 18, 2024 9:07 AM

Biden tells BET he would leave 2nd term if forced by 'medical condition'

President Joe Biden in an interview with BET said he would be open to relinquishing the presidency during his second term if health reasons dictated it, though he dismissed the possibility as unlikely.

"Only if I was told that there was some medical condition that I had, and that's not the case," the president said when asked if he would turn over power to Vice President Kamala Harris if he couldn't complete a second term.

PHOTO: President Joe Biden walks to his car after stepping off of Air Force One at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, Wednesday, July 17, 2024.
Susan Walsh/AP
President Joe Biden walks to his car after stepping off of Air Force One at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, Wednesday, July 17, 2024.
Susan Walsh/AP

In the pre-taped interview, which aired in full Wednesday night, Biden told BET's Ed Gordon that he would keep serving as long as the effects of his increasing age don't impact his ability to do the job.

He also acknowledged he would be willing to evaluate his capabilities on a year-to-year basis.

-ABC News' Will McDuffie, Gariella Abdul-Hakim and Fritz Farrow


Jul 18, 2024 5:07 AM

Pelosi went to Biden with concerns over his candidacy: Source

Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi spoke with President Joe Biden a week ago, telling the president that she and other members of the Democratic Party are concerned about him staying in the race, a source confirms to ABC News.

Pelosi told the president that the calls for him to step down from the ticket would grow, sources said.

It is possible that Pelosi could suggest Biden should step down publicly, a source said.

The news about Pelosi’s behind-the-scenes moves comes as associate Rep. Adam Schiff, who is running for Senate, spoke out publicly earlier Wednesday, saying Biden should “pass the torch.”



Jul 17, 2024 10:27 PM

Biden tests positive for COVID

The president tested positive for COVID-19 Wednesday afternoon, the White House said.

Biden is experiencing "mild symptoms," White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement.

Biden was campaigning in Las Vegas and attended one event earlier in the day, according to Jean-Pierre.

MORE: President Joe Biden has tested positive for COVID-19, has mild symptoms: White House

"He will be returning to Delaware where he will self-isolate and will continue to carry out all of his duties fully during that time," she said.

The White House doctor provided more details, stating Biden had a runny nose, "and non-productive cough, with general malaise." The president's temperature was 97.8 degrees and he had taken his first dose of Paxlovid, the doctor said.

-ABC News' Justin Fishel


Jul 20, 2024 5:05 PM

Clintons privately supporting Biden, encouraging donors, sources say

Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hilary Clinton are privately supporting Biden and have been encouraging donors to continue giving and stick with the president, two sources familiar with the matter told ABC News.

One source described the Clintons’ support as "encouraging," "supportive" and "deferential" to Biden’s decision to stay in this race.

Several members of Biden's senior staff including, deputy chief-of staff Annie Tomasini and Steve Richetti, the president's counselor, are in Rehoboth, Delaware where he is recovering from COVID-19.

As they have been since the debate, Richetti and Biden’s senior staff continue to “listen” and “hear out” concerns from donors, lawmakers and party leaders, but "not agreeing" with their views, according to the source.

Their message to those skeptics is that the president has a “hardened perspective” and is committed to this race. The source added that they’re telling skeptics the president is eager to make the contrast with Trump and get back out on the campaign trail.

-ABC News' Selina Wang and Justin Gomez


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