AOC breaks her silence on whether she backs Biden as Democrats melt down after rocky debate fallout

Progressive Squad leader Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez collapsed her soundlessness connected whether Joe Biden should tally again successful 2024.

After Biden's disastrous statement capacity against erstwhile President Donald Trump connected June 27,  questions person swirled complete nan 81-year-old's beingness and intelligence wellness - and whether he should retreat from nan race. 

So far, only a mini cohort of Democrat lawmakers person called connected nan president to retreat from nan title while galore much person thrown their support down Biden. 

The Squad leader confirmed Monday she is connected committee pinch nan president's leadership.

'I person spoken pinch [Biden] extensively,' AOC revealed. 'The matter is closed. Joe Biden is our nominee.'

AOC said she said to Biden complete nan play and he made clear to her that he is not withdrawing from nan race. 

'He made clear past and he has made clear since that he is successful this race,' she continued.

'He is successful this title and I support him,' nan Squad leader said. 

The full-throated endorsement from nan astir celebrated progressive lawmaker comes astatine a important clip arsenic Democrats travel retired against nan president's reelection campaign.

AOC's support of Biden was mirrored by House Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., who said she is also, arsenic of now, backing Joe. 

'I deliberation it's important that we make judge that our nominee is nan strongest, and correct now Biden is our nominee.'

'So until that changes, I deliberation it's amended that we person these conversations successful private,' she continued. 

Though, her outlook connected post-debate Biden was not each rosy.

'I deliberation it would beryllium difficult not to beryllium concerned,' she added. 'I deliberation that was not a bully statement performance.'

'And I deliberation it was very difficult for each of america to watch.' 

The first elected Democrat to break ranks pinch Biden was Texas Rep. Lloyd Doggett. 

On July 2, 5 days aft Biden's disastrous CNN statement performance, Doggett released a connection calling connected nan president to retreat from nan race. 

Doggett, a seasoned Democrat who has served since 1995, wrote really Biden pledged to beryllium a 'transitional' candidate, saying that nan president has fulfilled his committedness and should extremity his bid. 

A time later connected July 3, Rep. Raúl Grijalva of Arizona told nan New York Times he excessively believes Joe Biden should driblet retired of nan race.  

'If he's nan candidate, I'm going to support him, but I deliberation that this is an opportunity to look elsewhere,' Grijalva said.

A number of different influential lawmakers besides expressed their concerns complete Biden's expertise successful a Sunday telephone betwixt members of Congress. 

Democrat Reps. Mark Takano of California, Jerry Nadler and Joe Morelle of New York, and Adam Smith of Washington each expressed connected nan convention really they want to spot Biden measurement aside. 

On Monday, Smith - nan apical Democrat connected nan House Armed Services Committee - said publically connected CNN he wants Biden to driblet retired of nan race. 

'We've sewage a bully message,' Smith said of Democrats' governmental positioning. 

'The president has shown he is not tin of delivering that connection successful an effective way,' he added, saying location were concerns starring up to nan debate.