'The Time Has Come' For President Joe Biden To 'Heroically Pass The Torch,' Schneider Says

HIGHLAND PARK, IL — Congressman Brad Schneider on Thursday became the 11th Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives and second from Illinois to publicly call for President Joe Biden to give up on his bid for a second term.

In a statement, Schneider twice declared his love for Biden, who would "unquestionably" be considered one of the all-time greatest presidents "if the history books were to be closed today," he asserted.

"I was proud to be the first member of the Illinois delegation to endorse his candidacy five years ago," Schneider said. "I knew then he would be a great president and he has proven me right."

The Highland Park Democrat, a vice chair of the moderate New Democrat caucus, was the 38th member of Congress to endorse Biden in January 2020. But now it is time for Biden to "heroically pass the torch," Schneider said.

"President Biden now has the opportunity to secure his legacy and boldly deliver the nation to a new generation of leadership," the congressman said.

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"The stakes in this election could not be higher. Donald Trump and the administration he would install are an absolute threat to the very core of our nation," he continued.

If reelected, Biden would be 86 years old at the end of his term. While Biden's top aides have worked to assuage concerns about his mental acuity, his often incoherent performance at last month's debate has prompted discussions among Democratic elected and party officials over the possibility of putting someone else at the top of the ticket.

Schneider said Biden could live up to the standard of President George Washington, who declined to run for a third term, by "passing the torch" instead of pursuing a second term.

"We are faced with a stark choice: be resigned to slog through this election praying we can successfully defend our democracy, or enthusiastically embrace a vibrant vision for our future, building on the extraordinary foundation President Biden has created for our nation over the past four years," Schneider said.

Last week, Rep. Mike Quigley became the first member of the Illinois congressional delegation to call for Biden to withdraw from the race.

The Chicago Democrat said it was important to be honest that Biden's debate debacle "wasn't just a horrible night," declining to further elaborate "out of my respect and understanding" of the president.

On Wednesday, Sen. Dick Durbin, the majority whip, told reporters “it remains to be seen” whether Biden should remain the nominee.

Others have reiterated their support for the incumbent, with veteran Evanston Rep. Jan Schakowsky warning it would be "absolute chaos" to replace Biden as the nominee and downstate freshman Rep. Nikki Budzinski, a former Biden administration staffer, noting that Biden won the party's largely uncontested primary and "has made it clear that he will stay in the race."

At least one fundraiser scheduled for Chicago during the Democratic National Convention have decided not to proceed with the event, a source told CNN. The event had reportedly been planned as a lunch for several dozen people, among them many who had given millions to Biden's last campaign, but was canceled over a disagreement over how to move forward amid the "continued erosion" of support for the president's reelection bid.

Biden is scheduled to hold a news conference Thursday night. According to the American Presidency Project, he has held 14 solo news conferences in his first three years in the White House. While that is less than half as many as Obama, the president under whom he served as vice president, is more than the nine convened by Trump, his immediate predecessor and presumptive opponent in November.

"In passing the torch now, President Biden has a chance to live up to this standard and seal his place in history as one of the greatest leaders our nation, and history, has ever known," Schneider's effusive statement concluded. "He can lead the transition of power to a new generation that can build a stronger party and a stronger nation. I fear if he fails to make the right choice, our democracy will hang in the balance.”

Read more: Schakowsky Backs Biden To Remain In Race, Warns Of 'Chaos' If Replaced