Biden meets union leaders as Democrats' calls to exit race continue

10/7/2024 17:10

        U.S. President Joe Biden returns to the campaign trail on Wednesday, rallying the key constituency of labor leaders, as some fellow Democrats continue to persuade him not to run again.
        
        For the past 13 days, the 81-year-old Biden has been working to stem defections from Democratic lawmakers, donors and other allies worried he might lose to Republican Donald Trump after his halting June 27 debate performance.
        
        Biden will join the AFL-CIO's executive council meeting in Washington on Wednesday to take questions from leaders of major U.S. labor unions and discuss "their shared commitment to defeating Donald Trump this November,".
        
        Labor votes were key to Biden's win over Trump in competitive states, including Michigan, Pennsylvania and Nevada, in 2020.
        
        Democrats in the U.S. Congress remain deeply divided over whether to fall in line behind Biden or to urge him to step aside because of persistent questions about his health and acuity. Biden has said he is fit to serve but understands the questions.