President Joe BidenThe first televised interview since last week’s debate collapse did little to stop the bleeding.
Members of Congress and top Democratic operatives told POLITICO shortly afterward Biden speaks with ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos it was aired that the president was more energetic and energetic than he was on stage during last week’s confrontation with donald trump – but it probably won’t be enough to tame the panic.
And many were shocked by the president’s blatant denial of his position in the race and his repeated dismissal of his party’s widespread concerns. It’s an approach that some Democrats have described as “dangerous.”
“He was more excited and strongly defended what he did. But the question the debate raised is about his fitness for the next four years, not his performance over the last four years,” said David Axelrod, the longtime Democratic operative who helped lead Barack Obama’s presidential campaigns. “And he just doesn’t recognize that concern. He is also in denial about where he is in this race.”
One House Democrat, granted anonymity to speak candidly, said: “Denial of the problem is not a solution or a path to convincing our voters that he has the capacity or the vision for four more years.”
And another Democratic operative who advised the White House called the interview a “stay of execution” but added that the president’s “acceptance of losing to Trump, as long as he tries his best, will make his situation significantly worse with all Democratic office holders who do so.” I don’t want to lose your seat.
The outbreak within the Democratic Party has continued to metastasize in recent days. Few Democratic strategists believe the president’s interview on Friday will stem the onslaught of Democratic incumbents and candidates calling for Biden to be removed from office. Four members have already said they believe Biden should resign as a candidate, and two others have said they do not believe Biden can beat Trump. And when Congress reconvenes next week, many in the party are bracing for more defectors.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries is expected to meet virtually Sunday afternoon with Democratic committee members to discuss growing concerns about Biden, according to two people familiar with the situation who were granted anonymity to speak freely about the meeting. And the senator Marcos Warner (D-Va.) approached Senate Democrats to organize a discussion on Biden’s path forward. Both chambers of Congress will be back in Washington after the July 4 recess for votes on Monday night, when Democratic leaders will inevitably have to address the issue in person with rank-and-file members.
“Democrats have spent the last few days trying to give him space and grace,” said a former Biden administration official. “As it’s getting deeper, we’re seeing an effort to take it up a notch or two. And that should be more of a concern for the Biden operation than anything else.”
The ABC interview was framed by some Biden allies as a key opportunity for the president to convince his party that he is up to the task. This comes as polls show him in his worst electoral position heading into the 2024 election, as more voters than ever have an unfavorable opinion of Biden, believe he is too old to run again and want someone else to lead the race. Democratic ticket.
A defiant Biden held a campaign event in Wisconsin on Friday before taping the interview. He said repeatedly on Friday — at his event, on social media, during the interview and in fundraising emails — that he wasn’t giving up on the race, and used the ABC interview to dismiss his devastatingly low poll numbers. and her increasing pleas for him to step aside.
“If the Lord Almighty came down and said, ‘Joe, get out of the race,’ I would get out of the race,” Biden said. “The Lord Almighty will not come down.”
Biden’s repeated dismissals and refusal to seriously address concerns about his age and mental acuity stunned many Democrats who were closely following the interview. A Democratic official who worked on Biden’s 2020 campaign said it appears Biden’s team “is not being frank with him and that is dangerous.”
And deputy. Judy Chu (D-Calif.) said he found Biden’s response about taking a cognitive test particularly unnerving.
“I found the answer about taking a cognitive test every day disturbing and not particularly convincing, so I will be watching closely every day to see how he is doing, especially in spontaneous situations,” she said.
On the Hill, Democrats discussed collecting signatures for letters that would call for Biden to resign. These efforts will likely gain momentum when they reconvene in Washington. A growing number of Democratic members and operatives have said privately — and some publicly — that they believe Biden will be a serious obstacle to their efforts to regain control of the House.
“I think voters’ self-interest will be what sinks it. Once people realize he’s going to bring everyone down with him,” said an aide to a Democratic governor, who was granted anonymity to candidly discuss the situation.
The Biden campaign described Biden’s performance on Friday – a rally in Wisconsin followed by his interview with Stephanopoulos – as “forceful” on talking points, noting that he answered every question, delivered remarks to more than 1,000 supporters and answered questions from the traveling press. according to talking points obtained by POLITICO.
“Overall, the conclusion was clear: President Biden is clear-eyed and fully in this race to win,” according to talking points released by the Biden campaign.
Some Biden allies came out vigorously to the president’s defense. Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) repeated Friday that Biden is the party’s nominee and that Democrats need to “gain courage or grow up.” Representative. Jim Clyburn (DS.C.) said Biden is “who our country needs,” while Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) shared the interview and said he can’t wait to help Biden “continue to fight Trump and win in November.”
But his positive reviews have done little to convince Democrats generally that Biden is well situated to defeat Trump.
Representative. Mike Quigley (D-Ill.) became the latest member of Congress to call for Biden’s withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race on Friday, joining his Democratic colleagues in the House Lloyd Doggett (Texas), Raúl Grijalva (Ariz.) and Seth Moutlon (Pasta.).
“His legacy is defined. We owe you a great debt of gratitude,” Quigley said on MSNBC Friday night. “The only thing you can do now to cement this for good and avoid a total catastrophe is to resign and let someone else do it.”
Elena Schneider, Daniella Diaz, Brakkton Booker, Ally Mutnick, Eli Stokols, Adam Cancryn, and Shia Kapos contributed to this report.
