Washington – Several senior House Democrats said Sunday: President Biden must end it His re-election campaign was his Recent Discussion ResultsSeveral people told CBS News:
Reps. Jerry Nadler of New York, Mark Takano of California, Adam Smith of Washington and Joe Morrell of New York said this during a Zoom meeting with House Minority Leaders on Sunday. Hakeem Jeffries According to a person on the call and three others with knowledge of the meeting, Mr. Biden should drop out of the race.
Reps. Jim Himes of Connecticut, Don Beyer of Virginia and Jamie Raskin of Maryland also expressed skepticism about the president’s electability, according to lawmakers on the call and people familiar with the meeting.
Beyer’s office reaffirmed its support for Mr. Biden on Sunday, despite early reports that he was part of a group calling for the president to step down. After news of the call was published, Beyer issued a statement endorsing Mr. Biden.
“I endorse Biden-Harris and look forward to helping them defeat Donald Trump in November,” Baier said. “I was proud to host an event with the President in Northern Virginia this week, and I look forward to doing everything I can to support the Biden-Harris campaign in Virginia and across the country.”
CBS News spoke with every source who has expressed concern about the president’s chances of winning or said he should drop out of the race.
A Jefferies spokeswoman declined to comment on the call.
Rep. Susan Wild, who represents Pennsylvania’s 7th District, said in a statement that she “expressed the same concerns that Americans across the country are grappling with: the likelihood of a Biden presidency.”
“It does not serve the country to allow this difficult process to proceed amid leaks and rumors,” Wilde said. “The Democratic Party in Congress is a very diverse group, and there are many different opinions about what should happen next. That’s why I’ve always believed that people should be able to speak their minds in a confidential setting so that we can all benefit from what others are thinking. In the coming days and weeks, I will continue to work as I always have, and I will continue to have these important conversations while putting the best interests of my constituents first in every decision and statement I make.”
“The bottom line is that President Biden beat Trump in 2020, and now, building on his historic track record of success, he will do it again in November,” Massachusetts Rep. Richard Neal said in a statement. “Trump is a lying, convicted criminal who is out only for himself, and the American people know it. As I’ve shared before, the Republican Party is the greatest threat to our democracy, our economy, and the health of our people, and the President knows what’s at stake. I will fight with him to the end, fighting fiercely to defeat that threat.”
Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images
The meeting came after House Democratic leaders called a conference call last week amid leaks of Democratic lawmakers urging him to step down. On Saturday, Representative Angie CraigHe represents a front-runner in Minnesota and has become the latest House Democrat to call on the president to step down from the race. And as lawmakers return from recess this week, attention is expected to turn to the president’s support for Congress.
Meanwhile, Mr Biden has appeared defiant in recent days, making clear he plans to stay in the race despite concerns from some in his own party. interview Asked in an interview with ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos on Friday whether he would resign if he got a call from party leaders in Congress, Mr. Biden dismissed the question, saying, “No way.”
The president said he spoke with Jeffries for an hour and spent “a lot of time” with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. The president also held a meeting with Democratic governors at the White House last week.
“If the Almighty Lord comes down and says, ‘Joe, get out of Gyeongju,’ I will get out of Gyeongju,” the president said. “The Almighty Lord will not come down.”
Meanwhile, Virginia Sen. Mark Warner has been talking with fellow Democrats about how to persuade the president to step down and let someone else pursue the nomination, a senator contacted by Warner told CBS News Thursday. The senator noted at the time that there were no formal plans yet.
Finn Gomez contributed reporting.
Ed O’Keefe
