Moulton: Biden should exit election 'and let new leaders rise up'

Massachusetts Congressman Seth Moulton says President Biden should bow out of the upcoming election.

Speaking with WBUR on Thursday, Moulton said he does not have confidence Biden could defeat former President Trump in November.

"President Biden has done enormous service to our country, but now is the time for him to follow in one of our founding father, George Washington's footsteps and step aside to let new leaders rise up and run against Donald Trump," Moulton said.

Moulton is the third sitting member of Congress to publicly say Biden shouldn't run again — and the first from the Massachusetts delegation.

The Essex County congressman had released a statement Wednesday that questioned Biden's ability to continue in the race but stopped short of calling for him to step aside.

The Washington Post reported 11 others have raised concerns. Moulton was more explicit Thursday, saying it was time for "a new generation of Democratic leaders."

"The exact mechanism that we should follow in order for other leaders to rise up, whether it's some sort of primary process, whether it goes directly to Vice President [Kamala] Harris, I'm not sure about that, that's yet to be determined," he said. "And that's in many ways the substance of the deep, honest conversations that Democrats are having behind the scenes now and over the course of the past week."

Moulton said he came to this conclusion after speaking with "dozens and dozens, if not hundreds of Democrats concerned that Trump has gained an advantage in the presidential race following Biden's poor debate performance last week.

"That's what's most important," he said.  "We have to win."

A representative for Moulton said the congressman is not considering a run for president.

Moulton's comments come following a flurry of activity among Massachusetts Democrats reacting to the debate, where Biden seemed lethargic and at times unfocused. Rep. Jake Auchincloss told WBUR's Radio Boston that he's heard from concerned constituents following the debate, but that it is Biden's choice whether to continue his reelection campaign or not.

"If the election were held today, Donald Trump would probably beat Joe Biden. And so Joe Biden needs to present a plan, and more importantly, he needs to implement a plan to change that trajectory," Auchincloss said.

Gov. Maura Healey took part in a meeting between Biden and Democratic governors Wednesday night. Her office did not release a statement but following the meeting New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said Biden was "in it to win it."