US lawmaker 'feels responsible' to urge Biden to step aside — but why?

Facing pressure from both opposition and some within his own party after his shaky debate, US President Joe Biden is increasingly being urged to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race. Adding to the list, a Democratic lawmaker from Minnesota said she feels "responsible" to call on Biden to end his campaign following his debate performance and what she termed a "lack of a forceful response" against a looming "risk" of a Trump presidency.
In a statement released Saturday, Angie Craig expressed her belief that the stakes are too high to risk a second term for Donald Trump, urging Biden to make way for the "next generation of leadership." Craig is the fifth Democratic lawmaker to publicly call on Biden to step aside from the race. She said she feels the "responsibility to be honest" in urging Biden to withdraw.

"This is not a decision I've come to lightly, but there is simply too much at stake to risk a second Donald Trump presidency. That's why I respectfully call on President Biden to step aside as the Democratic nominee for a second term as President and allow for a new generation of leaders to step forward," Craig said in the statement posted on X.
Craig's district includes the southern portion of the Twin Cities metro area and several communities such as Lakeville, Eagan, and Northfield. She joins Representative Lloyd Doggett of Texas, who previously called for Biden to step aside.
Craig argued that Biden may not effectively campaign against Trump and urged the selection of a candidate capable of winning to prioritize the country's future over individual ambitions.
"I do not believe that the President can effectively campaign and win against Donald Trump," the lawmaker wrote.
"If we truly believe that Donald Trump and MAGA Republicans must be stopped, there is only a small window left to make sure we have a candidate best equipped to make the case and win. The future of our country is bigger than any one of us. It's up to the President from here."
Biden, facing an within his own party to end his campaign, has stated that he remains committed to his campaign. He met with Democratic governors on Wednesday to address concerns after his debate performance, receiving support from Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who affirmed Biden's fitness for office.
Biden, expecting to present a strong front and recover from last week's debate performance, said he would "get back up" and not let the 90-minute debate overshadow his accomplishments of the last three and a half years. "I am running and gonna win again," Biden, 81, told supporters emphatically in a speech in Madison, Wisconsin on Friday.
President Biden later recorded an interview with ABC News, asserting that he remains the best Democratic candidate to prevent Donald Trump from regaining the presidency in the November 5 election. He stated that only the "Lord Almighty" could convince him to step aside.