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The fallout from Joe Biden’s terrible debate performance continues unabated. In the days following Biden’s infamous face-off with Donald Trump, many in the media have called on Biden to drop out of the race, and donors are starting to bail on him. Elected Democrats have generally been reluctant to speak out publicly but have privately expressed concern or anonymously told the media they think he should leave the ticket.
ThefirstDemocrattopubliclycallonBidentodropoutisRep.LloydDoggett(D-Tex.),a15-termincumbentandthesecond-highestrankingDemocratonthepowerfulHouseWaysandMeansCommittee.
“MydecisiontomakethesestrongreservationspublicisnotdonelightlynordoesitinanywaydiminishmyrespectforallthatPresidentBidenhasachieved,”Doggettsaid.“Recognizingthat,unlikeTrump,PresidentBiden’sfirstcommitmenthasalwaysbeentoourcountry,nothimself,Iamhopefulthathewillmakethepainfulanddifficultdecisiontowithdraw.Irespectfullycallonhimtodoso.”
“IrepresenttheheartofacongressionaldistrictoncerepresentedbyLyndonJohnson,”Doggettcontinued.“Underverydiff