WASHINGTON — During his recent visit to Wisconsin late last week, President Joe Biden was greeted upon arrival by several Democrats, including Gov. Tony Evers and Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Madison. It was his first trip to the Badger State after he stumbled through his debate with former President Donald Trump. Since then, Biden has faced calls to step down from some members of his own party.
“I think more of the amazement is you have a twice impeached, 34-time felon and people aren't saying that's the candidate that should drop out,” Pocan said. “I think that's what's the most telling. Look, Joe Biden had a bad debate. Donald Trump had a bad debate. Right now, people are concerned in general.”
Pocan said he’s curious and nervous to learn what future polling will say about Biden.
“As much as Joe Biden's done, this should be a slam dunk to begin with prior to any debate, and yet it hasn't been, so it'll be interesting to see where people are now, and if the debate, one 90 minute performance, changes things," he said.
Pocan said he’ll support the Democratic nominee no matter what and hasn’t taken a position on whether Biden should pass the baton.
“My ego isn’t elevated enough that I think my opinion matters,” Pocan said. “At the end of the day, what matters is where people are at.”
Rep. Gwen Moore, D-Milwaukee, said she’s riding with Biden, calling him an “amazing president.”
“I will continue to support President Biden’s reelection bid,” her statement read in-part. “This election is about preserving freedom, progress, equality and democracy, and I will do everything in my power to ensure voters know what’s at stake.”
Moore did not address a question about concerns related to Biden’s age.
Wisconsin’s Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin, who faces re-election, hasn’t been seen with Biden in Wisconsin since January.
She told local reporters over the weekend she didn’t attend his speech in Madison because she had her own pre-planned campaign stops. Her campaign said she is running her own race and supports the president.
Baldwin’s opponent, Republican businessman Eric Hovde, has been slamming her for consistently voting with Biden.
“So her not showing up and providing video of her with Biden on the stage is just normal politics to avoid an unpopular president,” said Charles Franklin, a professor of law and public policy at Marquette University Law School.
Franklin, who’s also the director of the Marquette Law School Poll, said low enthusiasm among Democrats could depress turnout in the November election, posing a threat to Democratic candidates in down ballot races.
The last Marquette Poll showed 76% of registered voters in Wisconsin thought Biden was too old to be president, and that was before the latest debate.
“Further terrible performances, like in the debate, probably can still hurt him significantly,” Franklin said. “But it could be a lot worse if people had had very high expectations for him, and then saw the debate performance.”
House and Senate Democrats held separate meetings Tuesday to talk about Biden’s candidacy. Party leaders listened to their members’ concerns, but it appears, for now, a majority of Democrats in Congress do not support replacing Biden on the ticket.