Illinois Rep. Mike Quigley (D) expressed concerns about President Biden's fitness for office and urged him to withdraw from the presidential race.
Rep. Mike Quigley (D-Ill.) has joined the chorus of Democrats voicing concerns about President Biden's fitness for office. Quigley, appearing on CNN's "New Day," said that Biden looked "very frail" in a recent interview and that his continued presence in the race is hurting Democrats.
"The polling is going in the opposite direction, and that’s what’s particularly concerning, and I can frankly see why," Quigley said. "I don’t think it was a great interview. There were several things besides his very appearance that were concerning about what he said and how he said it."
Quigley Calls for Biden to Drop Out, Citing 'Very Frail' Appearance
Quigley pointed to Biden's uncertain response when asked if he had watched his debate performance, as well as his soft voice and lack of robustness. He also criticized the Biden campaign's handling of polls following the debate, saying that their denial of the poor results is damaging.
"I think frankly what hurts him, is the denial the president seems to have about how the polling was going," Quigley said.
Quigley Calls for Biden to Drop Out, Citing 'Very Frail' Appearance
Quigley urged Biden to consider the impact of his candidacy on downballot races, arguing that his continued presence in the race is putting Democratic candidates at risk.
"What I would stress to the president is that, ‘This isn’t just about you. It's not about loyalty. It's about being pragmatic.' We have to be honest with ourselves," he said.
Quigley Calls for Biden to Drop Out, Citing 'Very Frail' Appearance
Quigley's comments follow a private meeting held by several top House Democrats on Sunday to discuss the state of the presidential race. The consensus reached at the meeting was that it was time for Biden to step down.
Quigley predicted that more Democratic lawmakers would come out and express similar concerns in the coming days.
Quigley Calls for Biden to Drop Out, Citing 'Very Frail' Appearance
"It's going to be an amazing, unfortunately, horrible week, but I do think the numbers will grow," he said.
Despite the growing calls for him to withdraw, Biden has remained steadfast in his commitment to stay in the race. On Monday morning, he appeared on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" to reiterate that he is "not going anywhere."
A memo sent to Hill offices by the Biden-Harris campaign touted the president's efforts to rally supporters in several swing states since the CNN debate. The memo also highlighted a recent Bloomberg/Morning Consult poll that shows Biden trailing Trump across seven battleground states by just two points.
However, Quigley and other Democrats remain unconvinced. They believe that Biden's physical and mental health make him unfit for the presidency and that his continued presence in the race is damaging the party.
