Michigan Democrats rally behind Biden as calls to quit continue

President Joe Biden returns to Detroit Friday as an outreach to voters in a key swing state. He’s still trying to change the public perception that he is too old for the job.

The 81-year-old Biden stumbled badly in last month’s debate against former president Donald Trump. The performance was so dreadful, many Democrats have called for him to step down from the race.

Biden has refused, and the Democratic establishment has rallied around him in recent days.

That includes U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-Michigan).

“Yes, absolutely. I believe President Biden can win,” Peters said to the Detroit News. “And I believe that we’ll be able to hold the Senate majority, and I think we also have a good shot of expanding it.”

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has shown support for Biden, but also welcomed the President taking a cognitive test to quell doubters.

“It wouldn’t hurt,” Whitmer told CNN’s Abby Phillip. However, Whitmer won’t be in Detroit for Biden’s campaign stop. A senior staffer for the governor told WDET to not read too much into Whitmer missing the rally since stops on her book tour have been scheduled well in advance.

Still, not everyone is on board.

West Michigan U.S. Rep. Hillary Scholten (D-Michigan) says Biden should step aside.

“President Biden has served his country well, but for the sake of our democracy, he must pass the torch to a new candidate for the 2024 election,” Scholten said.

Michigan Democratic Party Chair Lavora Barnes isn’t concerned either.

“I support Joe Biden and Kamala Harris wholeheartedly and this party does as well,” Barnes said. “I think this conversation that we’re having right now, based on that one night of a debate, is going to wane as we continue to get focused on the work ahead.”

That work ahead is what has so many Democratic politicians — and voters — concerned. Joe Biden defeated Donald Trump by just 150,000 votes in Michigan in 2020.

Biden’s continued support of Israel’s attacks in Gaza is taking a toll on his base as well. That rhetorical and financial support has drawn widespread condemnation from Michigan’s Arab American and Muslim communities — further eroding those vote margins.

Barnes says outreach has continued even if it hasn’t from Biden himself.

“We’re doing all of the work we need to do, including in the Arab American community,” Barnes said. “We’ve got folks on the ground having conversations with voters about the importance of this election, listening to voters tell their stories about why they are frustrated and upset.”

During the presidential primary, the Uncommitted National Movement was able to win several delegates to next month’s Democratic National Convention in Chicago. There will likely be protests outside the convention and on the floor of the event itself. Still, Barnes remains unwavering.

“I think that we’re going to see a strongly-united Democratic Party in Chicago at that convention,” Barnes said.

“I’m excited about being in space with all of our fellow Democrats from around the country to celebrate who we are as Democrats, what we believe in, and then leave that convention ready to continue the hard work of making the election a success in November.”