Pennsylvania Democratic Party Chair: Some PA delegates believe Biden shouldn’t run

(WHTM) – Pennsylvania Democratic Party Chairperson and State Senator Sharif Street says there is concern in the Democratic Party and some members do not want to see President Joe Biden leading the ticket going into the Democratic National Convention.

“I haven’t done a tally but there are people that believe that,” said Street (D-Philadelphia) when asked how many people in the Pennsylvania delegation going to Chicago for the convention want the 81-year-old President to step aside.

“It’s hard to say,” said Street when asked about the likelihood of Biden still being atop the party’s ticket. “Whether he’s the candidate or a different Democrat, we can look at the policies of the Biden-Harris administration have been extremely successful, very few people question that. What they question is first, President Biden’s health and that’s something he has to make an evaluation of.”

Nationally Democrats are concerned that a poor performance by the President on Election Day could affect Congressional and local races. Senator Bob Casey has remained steadfast in his support of Biden and Governor Josh Shapiro, rumored to be a potential replacement, told reporters Friday “I think it is super unhelpful to engage in any hypothetical. The president has made clear he is running, I support the president. I think there is a clear contrast in this race.”

Street says there are some in the party feeling concerned about potential issues down-ballot seeing that Pennsylvania has a contested Senate seat and a narrow majority in the State House.

“I don’t know if nervous is the word, but I can tell you we are concerned,” said Street. “We’re not taking anything for granted.”

Street added that there weren’t many who believed Democrats could flip the State House, as well as win a U.S. Senate seat, the Governor’s Mansion, and other local races that year.