Should Joe Biden be the Democrats' presidential nominee? Delegates want more time to decide
- Delegates virtual roll call is done by August 7 – two weeks before Convention
- Rank-and-file members of the Democratic Party say they need more time
- READ MORE: Biden pushes back on Democrats' frantic calls for him to drop out
Delegates for the Democratic party's nominating convention say they need more time to decide whether President Joe Biden should still be the one to lead the ticket in November.
While national Party leaders insist the primary is over and that no one else will be their nominee on the Democratic presidential ticket, rank-and-file members and local leaders are off put by Biden's debate performance and worried he isn't the best choice.
Party officials say the delegates are required to hold their 'virtual roll calls' for the presidential nomination before August 7, which is the deadline to get on the ballot in Ohio. But delegates are still in the dark on when the roll call is happening and say one month isn't enough time.
'We need as much time as possible,' a Northeast party delegate told Axios. 'There's no way we can make a decision in two or three weeks.'
The Democratic National Convention is in Chicago, Illinois on August 19-22. At the end of that week, the party will officially put forward its nominee for president in 2024.
Democratic Party chairs, delegates and rank-and-file members want more time to decide if Joe Biden is the right choice for the 2024 ticket. 'Texas Democratic Party Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa (pictured) said: 'We have to feel that we can win this election. Our national Democratic leadership has to make a decision on what is ultimately the best for America'
Not only time, but delegates are also pleading for more options than the incumbent president.
'We are still waiting to hear what Biden is going to do,' Texas Democratic Party Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa said.
'We have to feel that we can win this election,' he added. 'Our national Democratic leadership has to make a decision on what is ultimately the best for America — and this world.'
So far some names being floated as replacements for Biden are Vice President Kamala Harris, California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Some within the party are hoping former First Lady Michelle Obama would emerge as a potential candidate.
But Biden insists he's in the race to the end and is balking at a chorus of calls for him to step aside.
Biden insists he is the 'leader of the Democratic Party' and will not be stepping aside. He and VP Kamala Harris held a call with campaign staff on Wednesday to reassure them after the debate debacle
'I am the leader of the Democratic Party. No one is pushing me out,' he told his campaign team during a Wednesday call alongside Harris.
And the national DNC agrees with the president.
'The primary is over, and in every state the will of Democratic voters was clear: Joe Biden will be the Democratic Party's nominee for president,' DNC Chairman Jaime Harrison said in a statement.
He added: 'Delegates are pledged to reflect voters' sentiment, and over 99% of delegates are already pledged to Joe Biden headed into our convention.'
