Democrats have shared concerns about President Biden in private conversations, and some of those concerns are becoming public this week.
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Despite President Biden’s efforts to quell dissent and maintain unity within his party after his candidacy, Democrats in Congress continue to raise concerns that he will lose in November and take other Democrats with him.
Lawmakers have said publicly and privately that the party is deeply divided on the issue, giving more power to the drip feed of information from individual members who choose to express their opinions. Public concern began to grow after CNN reported that Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., privately told other senators at a closed-door meeting on Tuesday that he was concerned that Trump would win a landslide victory and take both the House and Senate with him.
“That’s what I said,” Bennet recalled in an interview on CNN. “I think Donald Trump is on track to win this election and possibly win by a landslide and take both the Senate and the House of Representatives.”
Bennet previously served as chairman of the Senate Democratic campaign committee.
It’s a high-stakes fight within the party because most members agree there’s little time to change course if Biden decides to step down.
Oregon Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley, when asked about Sen. Bennet’s comments, told NPR, “I share those concerns and so do many of my colleagues.”
Asked whether Biden should withdraw, he said, “I think President Biden should look at all the information and have detailed conversations with key leaders, including Leader Schumer and Leader Jeffries, and do what’s best for the country.” He acknowledged that grassroots leaders and members are “extremely concerned.”
Biden campaign officials will meet in person with senators on Thursday, according to a Senate leadership source who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private plans.
Democrats will hold a special meeting at their campaign headquarters near the Capitol to hear from senior Biden advisers Mike Donilon and Steve Ricchetti, and Biden campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon, according to the source.
Even some close allies like former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., have been careful to avoid directly answering questions about whether Biden should drop out. Speaking in an interview on MSNBC’s Morning Joe, Pelosi reiterated that she believes Biden is a great president but has taken a cautious approach to questions about his future.
“It’s up to the president to decide whether or not to run,” she said. “We’re all encouraging him to make that decision. Because time is running out.”
The public panic is frustrating Biden loyalists, who say Democrats are undermining the president and their own chances in the election by publicly voicing their concerns. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., told reporters that Biden has been a great president and that he doesn’t think it’s helpful to express it.
“He’s the only one who’s going to kick Trump’s ass in the election,” Fetterman said. “And it’s going to be as close as it’s ever been and I think he’s going to win.”
NPR’s Susan Davis and Claudia Grisales contributed to this report.
