July 12th 2024.
Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and President Joe Biden had a meeting on Thursday night, right after the president's highly-anticipated solo news conference. This meeting comes as more and more Democrats in Congress are choosing to distance themselves from Biden's coalition.
During the meeting, Jeffries shared the thoughts and opinions of the caucus with Biden, as outlined in a letter he wrote to his colleagues the following day. However, one thing was noticeably missing: Jeffries' endorsement.
According to a source familiar with the meeting, Jeffries openly expressed the views of the caucus, but intentionally chose not to endorse Biden or publicly state that the decision is ultimately up to the president.
While it is unclear if Biden directly asked for Jeffries' endorsement, another source familiar with the matter confirmed that Jeffries did not offer it during the meeting or in his public letter.
Despite Biden's strong performance during the news conference, where he tackled topics ranging from his mental capabilities to foreign policy, there has been a steady flow of House Democrats publicly opposing his bid for a second term.
Over a dozen Democratic House members and at least one senator have publicly called for Biden to withdraw from the race. This includes members in competitive districts, as well as senior Democrats and those in safe Democratic seats.
While many others have not explicitly called for Biden to end his campaign, they have expressed concerns about his chances of winning or have remained undecided. On the other hand, more than 70 members of Congress have publicly reaffirmed their support for Biden as the party's nominee, following his disastrous debate performance last month.
This week, top Democrats such as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Jeffries have made public statements in support of Biden's candidacy. However, according to CNN, former Speaker Nancy Pelosi has privately expressed her concerns.
During the news conference, Biden displayed a range of knowledge on various topics, including Israel, Russia, China, and gun control. However, he also made two notable mistakes: introducing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as "President Putin" during a NATO event, and referring to Vice President Kamala Harris as "Donald Trump" during the news conference.
The evening seemed to be a test for how Democrats feel about Biden. Those who remain loyal to him focused on his detailed answers on foreign policy issues, while those who doubt him used his verbal slip-ups as further evidence for a change in leadership.
Biden himself appeared more humble during the news conference and was less defiant than in previous appearances. While he previously stated that only the "Lord Almighty" could convince him to withdraw from the race, he now seems open to the idea of dropping out under different circumstances. When asked if he would reconsider if presented with data showing that Harris would perform better against Trump, Biden said he would only drop out if he was told he had no chance of winning.
Meanwhile, Biden's campaign has acknowledged the challenges they have faced since his debate performance two weeks ago. Campaign chair Jen O'Malley Dillon addressed this issue in a call with staff on Thursday, acknowledging that it has been a difficult and challenging time. However, she also emphasized that they have a plan in place and that the data still supports Biden's ability to defeat Trump.
O'Malley Dillon tried to rally the team, admitting that she hasn't had much sleep lately. She shared external and internal polling numbers and argued that the campaign is well-equipped to handle this moment and ultimately secure a victory for the president.
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