NC Democrats weigh Biden’s political future

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — Beating Donald Trump is one thing members of the House Democratic Caucus agreed on behind closed doors Tuesday. But for some within the party, just how to get there is still a dilemma.

North Carolina congressman Wiley Nickel was in the room. “We’ve got a House Democratic Caucus with a lot of different opinions, but we’re all of the same opinion that we’ve got to unite, to get to work together, to beat Donald Trump,” he said.

Western Carolina University political scientist Chris Cooper said if there were a collective decision by congressional Democrats to find a different way to beat the former president it doesn’t mean they’d get their way. It’s ultimately President Biden’s decision.

“Let’s pretend for a second that they came out of that caucus meeting today and said we’re done with Joe Biden. That doesn’t really mean that anything happens, right? That doesn’t mean that he’s off the ballot. That doesn’t mean that he’s not the nominee,” said Cooper.

Representative Nickel told CBS 17 that he’s still hearing concerns in his home district, which includes Wake and Johnston counties.

“What’s certainly clear is that President Biden had a very bad debate. The questions about whether he’s up to the job are very legit questions. They are questions that that I hear about over and over from my constituents and it’s up to President Biden,” said Nickel.

Nickel said he stands behind the president and believes Joe Biden can win in November, but it’s the voters who need convincing.

“I can’t put this issue to bed. He’s the only one that can put the issue about his age and ability to do the job to bed by getting out there, getting in front of this issue, talking to folks, he ought to be talking to CBS 17, and he ought to be out there doing town halls in North Carolina so the voters can see him in action and make up their mind for themselves,” said Nickel.

Professor Cooper said as much as the Biden campaign and the White House may want to move on that, it may not be the reality in the months to come.

“I think the problem for Joe Biden is if he steps aside and says I’m no longer the nominee, the conversation’s over. But until that moment happens, if that moment happens, we’re going to continue this conversation over and over and over again,” Cooper said.

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