民主有力議員、バイデン氏に撤退求める　米大統領選

【ロサンゼルスＡＦＰ＝時事】米民主党のアダム・シフ下院議員が１７日、ジョー・バイデン大統領（８１）に対し、大統領選からの撤退を求めた。（写真は米民主党のアダム・シフ下院議員）
　シフ氏は民主党内で最も影響力のある議員の一人で、ドナルド・トランプ前大統領の最初の弾劾裁判で首席検察官役を務めたことで全国的にも知名度が高い。
　米紙ロサンゼルス・タイムズによると、シフ氏は、バイデン氏を「わが国史上、最も重要な大統領の一人」だとたたえつつ、「聖火を渡すべきだ」との表現で大統領選からの撤退を要請。「２度目のトランプ大統領の誕生は民主主義の根幹を揺るがすものとなるだろう。１１月に現大統領がドナルド・トランプを打ち負かせるか、私は深刻な懸念を抱いている」と述べた。
　さらにシフ氏は、バイデン氏は身を引くことで 「自らの遺産を守るべき」だとも主張した。
　バイデン氏については、大統領選へ向けたトランプ氏との第１回候補者討論会で失態を演じたことから、年齢と健康状態をめぐる懸念が改めて浮上。
　世論調査によると、バイデン氏とトランプ氏の支持率は拮抗（きっこう）しているが、主な激戦州ではトランプ氏がリードしている。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2024/07/18-16:48）

Representative Adam Schiff on Wednesday became the most heavyweight Democrat so far to publicly urge US President Joe Biden to step aside for another candidate to face Donald Trump.
He called on his ally to pass the torch.
Schiff, a key congressional powerbroker, praised Biden but told the Los Angeles Times that he doubts that the 81-year-old incumbent can defeat Trump -- a threat to the very foundation of our democracy.
The Californian, who is expected to win a Senate seat this November, is one of the party's most influential members and a key ally in the legislature for the White House.
He served as chairman of the House intelligence panel when Democrats had the majority in 2019 and shot to nationwide prominence as lead prosecutor during then-president Trump's first impeachment trial.
In a statement to the Los Angeles Times, Schiff aired the worry gripping the party, although often in private, that questions over Biden's age and health will doom him in the November election.
Those concerns rocketed after Biden performed badly in a televised debate with Trump last month, often looking confused or unable to articulate.
Since then, Biden has repeatedly said he intends to stay in the race, arguing that he remains the best person to defeat Trump. Polls show a tight overall contest, but with Trump pulling ahead in key swing states.
Schiff called Biden one of the most consequential presidents in our nation's history.
However, a second Trump presidency will undermine the very foundation of our democracy, and I have serious concerns about whether the president can defeat Donald Trump in November.
Biden should secure his legacy by stepping aside, he said.