As Democratic lawmakers meet privately to discuss President Joe Biden’s re-election bid, questions continue to be raised about the president’s physical and mental health.
The closed-door meeting Tuesday exposed ongoing divisions within the party over Biden’s chances of winning after his dismal performance in last month’s debate with Republican rival Donald Trump.
Prominent Democrats, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, spoke to reporters before and after the meeting and reaffirmed their support for Biden.
Schumer repeatedly said, “I agree with Joe,” when answering questions about Biden’s eligibility for office.
“We’re running with Biden,” South Carolina Rep. Jim Clyburn told reporters.
The meeting appears to have eliminated the possibility of a mass rebellion against Biden’s candidacy, but it fails to present a unified front, at least for now.
Dick Durbin of Illinois said it was “not yet known” whether Biden would retain the nomination.
Asked whether Democrats were all on the same page, Tennessee’s Steve Cohen said, “We’re not even on the same page.”
Hours after the meeting, New Jersey Democratic Party Chairman Mikey Sherrill became the seventh Democratic candidate to publicly call on Biden to drop out of the race.
“I know that President Biden and his team have been true public servants, with the best interests of our country and our democracy at heart,” Cheryl said in a statement.
“And because I know that President Biden cares deeply about the future of our country, I am asking him to announce that he will not run for reelection and to lead the process for a new candidate.”
Massachusetts Rep. Lori Trahan stopped short of arguing that Biden should step down, but said “nothing that has happened over the last 12 days” suggests voters view Biden as the best candidate to beat Trump.
“Electing Trump for a second term would do irreparable harm to women and our country, and President Biden must act urgently to restore the American people’s trust so he can win in November,” Trahan said in a statement.
Biden, 81, has been working to boost his party’s approval ratings since a weak Jan. 27 debate reignited long-standing concerns about his age and health.
In a letter to congressional Democrats on Monday, Biden said he was “firmly committed to staying in this race, to seeing this race through, and to defeating Donald Trump.”
“I’ve heard the concerns that people have, the good-natured fears and concerns about what’s at stake in this election,” Biden said.
“I can answer all of this by being clear and unambiguous: I would not run again if I did not absolutely believe that I am the best person to beat Donald Trump in 2024.”
Biden will face a tough road to reelection. Recent polls show Trump ahead in both national polls and key states that will determine the outcome.
On Tuesday, the nonpartisan Cook Political Report changed Arizona, Georgia and Nevada from “ballot battles” to “Republican strong.”
A Reuters/Ipsos poll released last week found that 59% of registered Democratic voters said Biden was too old to be president, while one in three said he should drop out of the race.
If Biden backs down, the race will head into uncharted territory.
The U.S. presidential primary, where party members vote for their preferred candidate, has already ended, but the party’s nominee will not be confirmed until next month at the Democratic National Convention.
Since Biden has secured nearly all of his party’s delegates, it is unlikely he will be forced to step down against his will.
Vice President Kamala Harris is the most likely candidate to replace Biden if he drops out of the presidential election, but polls show that her approval ratings are not much higher than Trump’s.
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