Democrats had considered holding the vote as early as July 21
Push drew criticism from members urging Biden to stand aside
Democrats had considered holding the vote as early as July 21, when the convention’s credentials committee meets virtually.
Democrats will not hold a virtual roll call to formally nominate President Joe Biden until at least August, after an outcry from some who believed the process was being rushed at his behest to head off calls for him to stand aside.
The party will still undertake the process virtually — rather than at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in late August — but there will not be any delegate votes cast in July, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Leah Daughtry, who head the convention’s rules committee, said in a letter to delegates.
“That virtual vote won’t happen before the first of August and we just need to get it done, probably by the 15th of August,” Walz told reporters Wednesday at a press conference in Milwaukee. He dismissed the controversy over the issue as “a parlor game.”
Democrats had considered holding the vote as early as July 21, when the convention’s credentials committee meets virtually.
The party was discussing such a move even before Biden’s debate performance prompted alarm from allies, because Ohio had an Aug. 7 deadline for candidates to be certified for the ballot. While a new state law pushed that date back, moving up Biden’s formal nomination could would essentially render moot calls for the president to be replaced.
The accelerated push drew criticism, particularly from Democrats who have publicly urged Biden to reconsider his candidacy. On Capitol Hill, a letter arguing against expediting the nomination was circulating among Democratic offices.
“Fast-forwarding the nomination process is no way to convince the many unconvinced voters in the growing number of battleground states,” said Representative Lloyd Doggett, a Texas Democrat who has called on Biden to step aside. “Those so eager to overly protect President Biden ignore his own words inviting anyone questioning his nomination to do so at the Convention.”
Biden earlier this month dared challengers who did not support his candidacy to challenge him at the convention.
“Any of these guys that don’t think I should run, run against me. Announce for president, challenge me at the convention,” Biden during an interview with MSNBC’s Morning Joe.
Realistically, there’s little chance of another candidate emerging unless Biden himself announces he does not want to pursue his reelection bid. He has steadfastly insisted he intends to stay in the race.
During his press conference last Thursday, the president said delegates he won during the primaries were “free to do whatever they want.”
“But I get overwhelming support,” Biden added.
