A prominent Democratic fundraiser has expressed unwavering support for President Biden’s candidacy despite a week of muted responses from others in the party. Philadelphia-area activist Lindy Li, who recently raised over $1 million for Biden, reaffirmed her belief in his ability to defeat former President Trump and embody traditional Democratic values.
“Honestly, what we think or what anybody thinks is irrelevant because he is the one who holds all the cards here, and he’s decided to stay in the race and hold onto his preponderance of delegates,” Li said. “We just have to get behind him.”
Li, a frequent political commentator on MSNBC and a member of the DNC’s National Finance Committee, has had past clashes with the progressive wing of her party, particularly supporters of Sen. Bernie Sanders. Despite these differences, Li describes herself as a “conservative Democrat” committed to Biden, whom she sees as a consensus-minded moderate essential for the party’s success.
She emphasized that Biden’s moderate stance was why he won the 2020 primary, noting that the majority of the party viewed Sanders as unlikely to defeat Trump. Li also pointed out that prominent Democratic figures considered as potential Biden replacements, such as Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, chose not to run against him, indicating their belief in Biden’s viability.
Quoting from HBO’s “The Wire,” Li suggested that the lack of criticism from Democrats reflects the sentiment, “If you come for the king, you better not miss.” She asserted that ambitious politicians would have challenged Biden if they believed they could win.
Li acknowledged the difficulty of maintaining unified support for Biden within the Democratic Party. She recounted a recent call with Moore, where Biden himself addressed concerns and committed to more vigorously attacking Trump in future campaigns.
Li also highlighted the importance of preventing a second Trump term, citing his actions on January 6, 2021, as disqualifying. As an immigrant, she expressed a personal understanding of the dangers of authoritarianism and stressed the need to cherish democracy.
Furthermore, Li supported Biden’s measures to secure the border, favoring legal immigration based on her family’s experience. She dismissed claims about Biden’s health issues, praising his strategic moves to stabilize support within the party.
In conclusion, Li called for Democrats to unite behind Biden, emphasizing the existential threat posed by Trump and the binary choice facing the country. “I’m not here to gaslight anybody… I’ve had to reassure folks that Biden will remain in the race; that [Trump] is an existential threat to our country. We have to get on board. It’s a binary choice.”
