4 more senior Dems call on Biden to stand down from reelection bid

Several much elder House Democrats called connected President Joe Biden to wantonness his reelection bid during a backstage telephone convened by Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries connected Sunday afternoon, according to respective group participating.

Among those forcefully calling for Biden to guidelines down during nan astir two-hour telephone were Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.), Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.), Mark Takano (D-Calif.) and Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.), according to 2 group acquainted pinch nan backstage session.

Other members connected nan telephone voiced concerns astir Biden’s way to November, including Reps. Jim Himes (Conn.), Zoe Lofgren (Calif.), Don Beyer (Va.) and Rick Larsen (Wash.). It’s a mediocre omen for nan Biden run arsenic nan full Democratic elected servants of nan state prepares to return to Washington connected Monday evening wherever lawmakers will look reliable questioning astir their party’s standard-bearer.

Aaron Fritschner, Beyer’s spokesperson, posted connected X to incorrect reports that Beyer called for a caller nominee: “To beryllium clear [Beyer] supports President Biden and said truthful connected this telephone and immoderate reporting to nan contrary is simply a misunderstanding of what he said and what he believes.”

The further calls for Biden to guidelines speech from elder Democrats travel aft nan president’s capacity during an question and reply past week pinch ABC News did thing to assuage concerns among rank-and-file lawmakers astir his continued viability successful nan race. Members person many times urged nan president to do much unscripted events and municipality halls to show his continued vitality and power arsenic quickly arsenic possible.

It’s not conscionable nan House either. A group of Senate Democrats are reportedly readying a discussion of Biden’s way forward, led by Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), erstwhile that enclosure returns to Washington connected Monday. Five House Democrats person publically urged Biden to guidelines down, while galore others person expressed concerns astir his viability successful private.

Jeffries has spoken small publically connected Biden’s early since nan debate, but mysteriously posted a Bible verse connected nan societal media level X connected Sunday greeting earlier nan call. “Do not beryllium discouraged, for nan LORD your God will beryllium pinch you wherever you go,” nan Democratic leader wrote.

Democratic ire astatine Biden’s consequence during nan ABC News interview that only “the Lord almighty” could unit him from nan statesmanlike title continued to bubble up connected Sunday.

“We person to triumph this election,” said Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) connected MSNBC. “This isn’t a determination for Lord almighty. This is simply a existent world determination for existent world group successful authorities who attraction astir our country.”