An ad urging President Biden to step aside and “pass the torch” will air on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” — the commander-in-chief’s favorite TV program — next week.
A new group made up of concerned Democrats, called Pass the Torch, plans to begin running the ads in the Washington-area media market on Monday, NBC reported Friday.
The advertising area includes the 81-year-old president’s Rehoboth Beach, Del., home — where he is recuperating after testing positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday.
“We want to get this message — that we’re so grateful for all you’ve done, and now it’s seriously time to pass the torch — directly to President Biden,” Aaron Regunberg of Pass the Torch’s steering committee told the outlet.
“We’ll be going up on his favorite programs, and we plan to stay up until we hear the announcement that he’s going to do the right thing and step aside. Hopefully we’ll be able to take it off the air in the very near future.”
The ad shows seven Pennsylvania voters asking Biden to “pass the torch” to avoid losing to former President Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee.
“Please, be the leader we know you are. Pass the torch,” one of the people says.
“President Biden, you saved democracy in 2020,” says another.
“Now you have a chance to do it again,” the following speaker says.
“It’s time to pass the torch and let us choose a new nominee,” says one voter, with another adding a candidate is needed who “can bring new energy, new hope.”
“Our country’s future is in your hands,” says one of the featured voters.
Vice President Kamala Harris, 59, is widely seen as the most likely successor to Biden if he does decide to retire — amid mounting calls from party leaders to do so following his disastrous June 27 debate performance.
This week, reports indicated that former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) had privately briefed Biden on bleak polling figures suggesting a substantial loss to Trump, 78, possibly dooming down-ballot Democrats.
Former President Barack Obama also reportedly confided in allies that he believes Biden should end his campaign.