Michael LaRosa, the former spokesman for First Lady Jill Biden, indicated in an interview with Breitbart News that any discussion with President Joe Biden about stepping down from the 2024 presidential race would likely need to come Democrat leaders in Congress. This conversation comes in the wake of Biden’s recent debate performance, which has caused significant concern among Democrats regarding his re-election prospects.
LaRosa, who remains supportive of President Biden, emphasized the unity within the Biden family when pursuing their goals. He noted that Jill Biden would not feel comfortable urging the President to step aside, stating, “She would never be comfortable with a weighty decision like saying, ‘Joe, you have to, you know, step aside.’”
LaRosa pointed out that such a decision would likely need to come from top congressional figures, such as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY). “In both parties, something like that would probably have to come from, like, the leadership in Congress,” he said.
He highlighted the upcoming Pennsylvania U.S. Senate race between Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) and Republican Dave McCormick as a key indicator. If Biden’s presence at the top of the ticket negatively impacts Casey’s numbers, it could prompt a response from Schumer. LaRosa suggested that slipping poll numbers for Casey might force Schumer to reconsider his approach to the situation.
In a post on X, LaRosa elaborated, “IF (big IF) Bob Casey’s numbers in my home state of Pennsylvania start to slip or erode, they will send shockwaves to Schumer, who will react with lightening speed!”
Despite supporting Biden, LaRosa critiqued the campaign’s strategy of limiting the President’s public engagements. He argued that more frequent public appearances, despite the risk of mistakes, would have made it easier for the public to attribute the recent debate performance to an off night rather than a broader issue. “The more he is out there, yes, the more mistakes he’ll make, but the more conditioned over time people will be to see him,” LaRosa explained.
