Reports have emerged suggesting that House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries is scheduled to meet with other top Democrats on Sunday. The agenda? To deliberate over the future of Joe Biden’s presidential campaign, following his less than stellar interview on ABC News.
This meeting signifies a growing worry among congressional Democrats that Biden’s performance could potentially hamper their chances of reclaiming the House in November.
Despite these concerns, Biden has consistently pledged to remain in the race. Thus, even if fellow Democrats urge him to step down, there’s no certainty he will heed their advice.
FOX News provides further details:
Top Dems planning meeting about Biden’s future despite president’s vows to continue campaign
Top Democratic congressional leaders are planning to hold a meeting to discuss President Biden’s fledgling re-election campaign, even as Biden himself has struck a defiant tone amid calls to drop out of the race.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., is leading a virtual meeting with top Democrats on Sunday, with leaders expected to discuss the path forward for Biden’s campaign, according to an NBC News report that has been confirmed by Fox News.
The meeting will feature Jeffries and top committee Democrats, a person familiar with the arrangement told Fox News, but will not be a meeting of the full Democratic caucus.
The meeting comes after Biden’s 22-minute interview with ABC News on Friday, which the Biden campaign hoped would ease fears that the president doesn’t have what it takes to continue the campaign and defeat former President Donald Trump in December. Instead, the interview set off a new round of fears among Democrats who were already concerned by Biden’s disastrous debate performance last week.
Axios also reports:
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) is set to connect with his House committee leaders just before Congress returns to session for a conversation that is expected to touch on President Biden’s candidacy.
Why it matters: Next week could be a watershed moment for House Democrats, many of whom remain shaken by the president’s poor debate performance and convinced he cannot beat former President Trump.
– Lawmakers from across the party have told Axios they are hearing from donors, constituents and other stakeholders with grave concerns about Biden’s strength.
– Democrats in swing districts are doubly fearful the president could drag down their races as well, throwing the fight for Congress into doubt.
By Sunday night or Monday morning, we should have a clearer picture of what these top Democrats intend to do. Will they rally behind Biden or call for him to step aside? Only time will tell.
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