Divided Democrats blast Trump agenda to shift Biden focus

WASHINGTON – Even as congressional Democrats argued on July 9 over whether to stand behind US President Joe Biden’s candidacy, the White House and lawmakers grasped for a unified strategy: trying to change the subject from the President’s mental acuity to Donald Trump’s policy goals.

Public declarations of doubt from Democratic lawmakers slowed despite divisions over whether Mr Biden should remain their White House nominee or make way for Vice-President Kamala Harris or another candidate with a better chance of defeating Trump.

Across the Capitol,

Democrats parried questions about Mr Biden by invoking Project 2025

– a suite of policy proposals drafted by the conservative Heritage Foundation for Trump to pursue if he is elected in November.

Trump has tried to distance himself from the controversial initiative, but it is staffed by some of the most prominent members of his former administration. 

Democrats say the proposals – which range from gutting the federal civil service to banning pornography and blocking efforts to fight climate change – are likely to alarm undecided voters and push them into the President’s camp, even as doubts persist in the wake of Mr Biden’s disastrous debate performance in June.

“There is a consensus to focus on Project 2025,” said Representative James Clyburn of South Carolina, leaving a closed-door meeting of House Democrats that participants described as a listening session to allow members to vent their concerns about Mr Biden’s ability to defeat Trump.

“I am not going to be distracted by a 90-minute debate,” Representative Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, a member of the left-leaning “Squad” of lawmakers, said.

“I am focused on guarding against 90 years of horror if Project 2025 becomes a reality.”

Elsewhere, Representative Maxine Waters of California invoked the project as she questioned Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen during an appearance at the House Financial Services Committee. 

The attempt to change the channel came from the very top.

“Google Project 2025,” Mr Biden posted on X around midday, part of a refrain from his re-election campaign as it tries to refocus voters on the stakes of the November election and away from his struggles.

Staunching defections

The House Democrats’ meeting early on July 9 amounted to a forum on Mr Biden’s political future, after several members declared publicly that he should step aside.

There was no sign yet of the kind of clear consensus that might force him to reconsider his candidacy.

It is a pivotal week for the embattled President, who is

hosting a Nato summit in Washington.

He will hold a press conference on July 11, offering critics and supporters another moment to study every word for signs that he is slipping.

“He shouldn’t endanger his legacy and deliver us to a tyrant,” Mr Lloyd Doggett of Texas, the first Democrat to call for Mr Biden to step aside, said following the House Democrats’ meeting.

Many lawmakers expressed support for Mr Biden, albeit some more begrudging than others. And very few expressed confidence that Mr Biden can win a second term. 

New York Democrat Jerrold Nadler, one of several senior Democrats who have privately said Mr Biden should step aside, said the President has “made very clear he is running” and the party must get behind him. 

“He is the person,” Mr Nadler said when asked if Mr Biden can beat Trump in November. “The President has determined that he is the best candidate.” 

The President, who spoke late on July 8 with members of the Congressional Black Caucus and plans to meet progressives later this week, did not speak to House Democrats directly. 

The internal debate on Mr Biden has not been resolved. Representative Pete Aguilar, the House Democrats’ third-ranking leader, described the President as the party’s candidate “right now”.

After a two-hour closed-door meeting of Senate Democrats, Mr Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island said “nothing has changed” about his concerns over Mr Biden.

“I think we need to continue to have the conversation we had today,” the senator added.

Donor discontent

A growing number of donors are expressing worries about Mr Biden’s ability to beat Trump in November.

Nearly 400 donors sent a letter on July 8 calling for Mr Biden to withdraw from the race “for the sake of our democracy and the future of our nation”. 

Among those who signed the letter are Ms Lisa Blau, the co-founder of venture firm _able Partners, Mr Kevin Brennan of hedge fund Bridgewater Associates, former Procter & Gamble chief executive John Pepper, and two former Internal Revenue Service commissioners Charles Rossotti and Fred Forman.

“To be clear, however this resolves, I will support him or whoever the Democratic nominee is,” Mr Trey Beck, a Democratic donor and former managing director of D.E. Shaw Investment Management, told Bloomberg Surveillance on July 9.

“We’re going to have to unify behind our candidate, and if it’s Biden, that’s who I’ll get behind. I’ll walk on glass for the guy.” BLOOMBERG