Joe Biden’s reelection bid is in freefall right now. He can’t seem to get things on the right track ever since his awful debate performance.
And the Biden campaign is in shock after this massive blue state hands them a sobering election report.
President Joe Biden’s lackluster debate performance less than two weeks ago has sent ripples of anxiety through Democratic ranks, especially in critical swing states and even traditionally blue strongholds like New York City. With the November election looming, Democrats are increasingly apprehensive about their prospects.
In 2020, Biden triumphed in New York, securing a decisive victory over former President Donald Trump by a margin of approximately 23%.
However, according to a recent Politico report, some Democratic officials now express unease about Biden’s re-election chances in the state. One Democratic insider remarked that the campaign had grown too complacent regarding New York’s political landscape.
“We’re still acting like this is a one-party state, which for pretty much 20, 25 years it has been,” stated Democratic Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine to Politico. “I truly believe we’re a battleground state now.”
The report underscores a growing concern among officials about Biden’s diminishing lead in New York, particularly in crucial House districts.
A Siena College poll from June, conducted before Biden’s contentious June 27 debate with Trump, indicated that Biden led the Empire State by a slim margin of 47%-39%.
Despite New York’s long history of voting Democratic in presidential elections—it hasn’t chosen a Republican candidate since 1984—Biden’s recent struggles could jeopardize key races within the state. These contests are vital for determining control of the House of Representatives come January.
Republicans regained control of the House in 2022, largely due to strong performance in New York, despite underwhelming results in other states.
The Cook Political Report rates three Republican-held House seats in New York as “toss-up” contests for the upcoming November election. Additionally, two other seats, one held by a Democrat and another by a Republican, are rated as “lean Democratic.”
Given the high stakes, Politico reports that New York Democrats are urging the Biden campaign to bolster efforts in the state to prevent a potential down-ballot collapse.
The fallout from last month’s debate has seen Trump, who was already leading Biden in most national and swing state polls, extend his lead, causing alarm among Democrats about states potentially shifting into contention.
On Tuesday, the Cook Political Report adjusted the ratings of six states in Trump’s favor, including moving Georgia, Nevada, and Arizona from “toss up” to “lean Republican.”
Other changes included Minnesota, New Hampshire, and Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District, shifting from “likely Democratic” to “lean Democratic.”
One of the principal worries for Democrats in swing states and districts is the down-ballot impact of Biden’s faltering campaign.
Some vulnerable Democrats have distanced themselves from Biden. Representatives like Jared Golden (D-ME) and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA) openly acknowledge the likelihood of a Trump victory in November, while others, such as Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN), have called for Biden to step aside.
Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY), although vocal about his concerns over Biden’s candidacy, has not called for him to step down. On Wednesday, he emphasized the importance of evaluating the down-ballot consequences of their nominee.
“An unsentimental analysis of the cold hard numbers, which have no personal feelings or political loyalties, should inform what we decide and whom we nominate. If we’re going to choose a particular path, we should be clear-eyed about its consequences. Blindness is not bliss amid the terrifying threat of a Trump presidency,” Torres stated.
Stay tuned to The Federalist Wire.
