Will Democrats continue to back Biden? Local experts weigh in

TOPEKA (KSNT) - After what some are calling a disastrous debate performance, support is wavering for President Biden.

27 News political analyst Bob Beatty says more than half of Democrats polled do not believe the president is capable of getting the support he needs to win the election.

"I've been studying elections for 25 years," Beatty said. "There's never been such a disastrous performance by any candidate at the presidential level in a debate."

The chairman for the Kansas House Elections Committee, Rep. Pat Proctor (R) says the clock is ticking for Democrats to decide who they'll back.

"Practically, you would have to know at the latest by middle of September what name to put on the ballot," Proctor said.

Proctor also says in terms of fundraising any democratic substitute, other than Vice President Kamala Harris, would have a steep hill to climb.

"[Biden] has collected bucketloads of money," he said, "and he can't give that money to anybody else except his vice president."

Beatty says major donors of the Biden campaign have already pulled their support. He says continuing to lose money poses the president with a serious challenge.

"That's American politics you gotta have TV ads," Beatty said, "you gotta pay your workers. And if the donors are telling Biden we're not gonna fund this campaign, how does he stay in the race?"

Despite the questions about his fitness to lead following the June 27 debate, many Democrats are still backing the 81-year-old incumbent including Kansas Governor Laura Kelly.

While I have never been shy about standing up to Washington when it’s wrong for Kansas, the President’s record of delivering bipartisan results speaks for itself. His efforts will continue to allow Kansas to recruit new manufacturing businesses, rebuild our infrastructure, and stand up for our fundamental freedoms. He is a decent man of strong character. I will support him in November.

Statement from Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly (D) from July 2

Beatty says the biggest problem facing Democrats is the divisiveness within the party as they weigh their options.

"Utter, utter disaster for the Democrats," Beatty said, "would be Biden going to the convention sticking to his guns and donors, democratic congress people have largely abandoned him."

The president has been consistent about staying in the race, most recently during a July 12 speech in Detroit where he told the crowd he's "not going anywhere."

The Democrats will likely continue to consider their past path forward as the Democratic National Convention draws near. That kicks off Aug. 19 in Chicago.

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