July 7th 2024.
On Sunday, several Democratic ranking members spoke with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries in a conference call and expressed their concerns about President Joe Biden's performance in the last debate. The call, held before the return of politicians to Washington this week, was filled with deep worries about the potential damage to the Democratic ticket and how it could jeopardize their chances of winning back the House majority.
During the call, Jeffries did not disclose his own opinion on whether Biden should continue his 2024 campaign for reelection. However, sources familiar with the call revealed that there were more politicians who explicitly stated that Biden should not be the Democratic nominee than those who spoke in support of him. Among those who opposed Biden were Reps. Mark Takano, Adam Smith, Jim Himes, Joe Morelle, Jerry Nadler, and Susan Wild, while Reps. Maxine Waters and Bobby Scott were among those who spoke in his favor.
One of the main concerns expressed during the nearly two-hour call was that the Democrats would lose their chance at the House majority if Biden remains the candidate. It was generally acknowledged that the nominee should be Vice President Kamala Harris. A senior Democratic aide, speaking on condition of anonymity, described the call as "pretty brutal" and added that no decisions were made about demands for a White House meeting or sending a letter to Biden.
However, one senior House Democrat revealed that they have been on calls and group chats with dozens of their colleagues, and the consensus is that Biden needs to step aside. They also mentioned that the caucus is trying to find the best way to move forward while still showing respect for Biden's storied career. Tuesday, the day of the planned caucus meeting, is expected to be the most consequential day for the president this week, according to this member.
Many Democrats who are concerned about Biden's viability as a candidate following his poor debate performance are waiting for Jeffries to take a public position. So far, the leader has been in purposeful listening mode, avoiding sharing his own judgment on the matter as he continues to survey his own caucus. Meanwhile, Biden, who is currently visiting battleground Pennsylvania, responded with a resounding "yes" when press asked if the Democratic Party was still behind him.
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