
In a “blunt” one-on-one meeting on Saturday, Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., gave President Joe Biden polling data as Democrats argue over whether the president should seek reelection following a lackluster debate performance last month, according to two people familiar with their conversation.
Although the Senate Democratic leader provided polls reflecting the present status of the race and its potential effects on the party moving ahead, the sources declined to comment on whether Schumer specifically urged Biden to think about withdrawing from the contest against former President Donald Trump.
Though much of the data is still within the margin of error, new public polling shows that Biden lags Trump nationally by a slight margin and that the former president leads in some crucial battleground states.
According to the sources, the two had a staff-free meeting in the room of Biden’s Rehoboth, Delaware, home.
Declaring that it was a private discussion between the two men, spokespeople for the White House, the Biden campaign, and Schumer declined to answer direct questions about whether Schumer requested Biden to step down.
A Schumer spokesman referred to the claims that Schumer had pushed Biden to resign as “idle speculation” during a private discussion.
“On Saturday, Leader Schumer personally communicated the opinions of his caucus to President Biden,” the spokeswoman stated.
Although Biden has admitted to having a rough debate night in June, he has grown more irate over advice that he should withdraw from the contest and focus on defeating Trump instead.
In an interview with Lester Holt of NBC News on Monday, Biden said, “I’m old.” First of all, I am just three years older than Trump. Second, I’ve had quite decent mental sharpness. In my three and a half years as president, I’ve accomplished more than any previous president. I’m prepared to be evaluated based on that.
Both Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., have stated that they are in contact with their respective caucuses and are providing Biden and his campaign with the opinions of their members.
A Democratic congressional source claims that Jeffries gave assurances to Democratic members who are calling for Biden to resign that he will convey their concerns and urgency to the president, citing that he had just “gotten an earful” from these lawmakers.
The insider stated, “As far as we understand, he did just that.” “He articulated what the caucus essentially wants to hear.”
Twenty Democratic members of Congress have urged Biden to halt his campaign; the most well-known member to do so on Wednesday was California Representative Adam Schiff, a former chair of the Intelligence Committee who is vying for the Senate.
Schumer has frequently responded to reporters who question if he would join those calls with, “I’m for Joe.”
Andrew Bates, a spokesman for the White House, stated that Biden has informed Schumer and Jeffries once more that “He is the party’s nominee, he intends to win, and he is eager to collaborate with them both to enact his 100-day agenda, which will support working people.”
After testing positive for Covid-19 on Wednesday, Biden will now be off from the campaign road for a while.
While Biden has repeatedly stated that he has chosen to remain in the race, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat from California, has stated that she will support him regardless of the choice he makes.
Schumer and Jeffries successfully pushed to postpone the virtual roll call to formally renominate Biden until August 1, just before the Democratic National Convention, in response to legislators’ persistent worries about Biden’s fitness.
After spending time with Biden on Tuesday, former Representative Cedric Richmond—a former member of the White House staff and co-chair of his 2020 campaign—said of the senator: “He looks good.” He sounds pleasant. He’s engaged in combat outside.”
Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., a significant Biden ally who joined them on Tuesday, according to Richmond, is totally in favor of the president’s reelection campaign.
“I’m in Clyburn,” declared Richmond. “We’re going to roll with him until the tires come off.” I will be really honest: I believe we will prevail.