Democrats panic in blue New York as Biden campaign falters

President Joe Biden‘s disastrous debate performance less than two weeks ago has rattled Democratic confidence in swing states and even deeply blue states such as New York City, which could be key in the November election.

Biden easily won New York in 2020, defeating former President Donald Trump by roughly 23%, but now some Democratic officials are worried about the president’s candidacy in the state, according to a report from Politico. One Democratic official told the outlet the campaign has been too complacent about the state of New York.

“We’re still acting like this is a one-party state, which for pretty much 20, 25 years it has been,” Democratic Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine told the outlet. “I truly believe we’re a battleground state now.”

The report suggests officials are concerned about Biden’s lead in New York dropping, specifically in key House districts. A poll conducted by Siena College in June, prior to Biden’s disastrous June 27 debate against Trump, showed Biden only leading in the Empire State, 47%-39%.

While the state, which has not voted Republican in a presidential race since 1984, is still far from being competitive at the top of the ticket, Biden’s free fall since the debate could hurt key races in the state, which could decide control of the House of Representatives in January.

Republicans were able to win control of the House in 2022 largely thanks to a strong performance in New York after underperforming in most states across the country. In the November election, three Republican House seats in New York are rated as “toss-up” contests by the Cook Political Report, while two other seats, one held by a Democrat and one held by a Republican, are rated as “lean Democratic.”

With the stakes of the race, Politico reports that Democrats in the Empire State want the Biden campaign to help shore up the state and avoid it from slipping down the ballot.

The fallout from the debate last month has seen Trump, who was already leading Biden in most polls nationally and in swing states, increase his lead and cause panic for Democrats over states he could move into contention.

The Cook Political Report moved six state ratings toward Trump on Tuesday, including moving Georgia, Nevada, and Arizona, from “toss up” to “lean Republican.” Other changes included moving Minnesota, New Hampshire, and Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District from “likely Democratic” to “lean Democratic.”

One of the chief concerns for Democrats in swing states and swing districts has been the down-ballot effect of a free-falling Biden campaign. Some vulnerable Democrats have distanced themselves from Biden, such as Reps. Jared Golden (D-ME) and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA) who proclaim Trump will likely win in November, while others like Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN) have called on Biden to step aside.

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Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY), who has been outspoken about his concern over Biden’s candidacy but has not called on him to step aside, said in a statement Wednesday that there “must be a serious reckoning with the down-ballot effect of whomever we nominate.”

“An unsentimental analysis of the cold hard numbers, which have no personal feelings or political loyalties, should inform what we decide and whom we nominate. If we’re going to choose a particular path, we should be clear-eyed about its consequences. Blindness is not bliss amid the terrifying threat of a Trump presidency,” Torres said.