Axios — Democrats want Biden to drop out by next Friday.
We’re now in uncharted, historic waters: President Biden — backed by first lady Jill Biden and his convicted son, Hunter, who’s serving as de facto gatekeeper for longtime friends — says that nothing, besides an act of God, will persuade him to quit his re-election campaign.
- But outside Biden’s protective bubble, a fast-growing number of Democrats are praying for —and plotting — a more earthly intervention. They want everyone from the Obamas to congressional leaders to beg Biden to drop out by this Friday.
Why it matters: Biden and his Democratic critics share one common passion — the intensity, certainty and irreversibility of their positions. Both plan fierce public and private campaigns to see who buckles.
- It won’t be him, Biden says publicly and privately. On a Saturday call with his national campaign co-chairs, Biden sounded full-speed ahead. He vowed to spend more time talking directly to voters, whether at town halls or press conferences.
The big picture: Democratic lawmakers have gone from shock, to sadness, to madness since the debate 10 days ago. These Democrats, further deflated by Biden’s high-stakes ABC interview, believe there’s nothing he can do to reverse the damage — or his aging.
www.axios.com/2024/07/07/biden-democrats-drop-election-campaign
Congressional Democrats plan meetings to discuss Biden’s 2024 prospects
House Democratic committee leaders will meet next week as some in the party question whether Biden can continue in the race. Some senators are organizing their own sit-down.
WASHINGTON — Some key House and Senate Democrats are planning meetings next week where they’re expected to discuss the path forward for President Joe Biden.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., will convene a virtual meeting with Democratic committee ranking members on Sunday, three sources told NBC News. The meeting is expected to focus on President Biden, one of the sources said, as he faces calls to step aside as the party’s nominee.
Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., meanwhile, is organizing a group of Democratic senators to meet next week to discuss what to do amid concerns about Biden’s electability and the potential for a drag on down-ballot races for the House and Senate, four sources familiar with the outreach told NBC News on Friday.
Though two House Democrats have publicly called for Biden to drop out of the 2024 race following a devastating debate performance last week, and others have privately echoed those calls, senators have so far held their fire on Biden’s future.
Warner’s office declined to comment on the meeting and Jeffries’ did not respond to a request for comment.
The House committee leaders’ meeting, set for 2 p.m. Sunday., is not part of any regularly scheduled gathering of ranking members. It comes a day before House lawmakers are slated to return to Washington following the Fourth of July recess.