Reports have surfaced that President Joe Biden is increasingly open to considering stepping aside as the Democratic presidential candidate. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has reportedly communicated to Democratic colleagues that Biden may soon make a decision to end his campaign.
According to The Washington Post, Pelosi has played a significant role in conveying concerns from House Democrats to the White House. She has expressed doubts about Biden’s ability to defeat Donald Trump in the upcoming November election and suggested that Biden is close to deciding to withdraw from the race.
Pelosi has been instrumental in intensifying the pressure on Biden to abandon his re-election bid, a push that gained momentum following a brief pause due to last Saturday's failed assassination attempt on Trump. Despite Biden’s insistence that he will be the party’s nominee, he has begun to question negative polling data and whether Vice President Kamala Harris, considered the favorite to replace him, would fare better.
This potential reconsideration comes after Biden tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday, forcing him to isolate and curtail a campaign visit to Nevada. Additionally, recent polling data shows Biden trailing Trump by two points in Virginia, a state he won by 10 points in 2020. Key Democrats, including Barack Obama, now believe he should step down.
An Emerson College Polling/Hill survey indicated Trump leading Biden by 45% to 43%, consistent with other polls showing declining support for Biden in swing states since his poor performance in last month’s debate in Atlanta.
Biden’s willingness to entertain the idea of stepping aside marks a shift from his previous stance at a press conference during the NATO summit in Washington, where he stated he would only withdraw if polling data showed “there’s no way you can win.”
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries have reportedly advised Biden to step aside for the country’s benefit. Schumer has described reports of his meeting with Biden as “idle speculation,” though he did not deny its contents.
The Democratic National Committee has delayed a planned electronic roll call of delegates, giving those opposed to Biden's candidacy more time to organize. Pelosi reportedly told Biden that he cannot beat Trump and risks harming the Democrats’ chances of recapturing the chamber in November, though Biden has pushed back, citing polling data showing he could win.
Former President Obama has reportedly expressed doubts about Biden’s re-election chances and urged him to reconsider his campaign. Other influential Democrats, including Congressman Jamie Raskin, have also urged Biden to step down, comparing him to a fatigued baseball pitcher.
Jeffrey Katzenberg, a key adviser and campaign co-chairman for Biden, has informed him that donors have stopped contributing to his campaign. An adviser to Biden stated that the decision to withdraw hinges on polling, fundraising, and which states are in play—all of which are currently unfavorable for Biden.
Despite the mounting pressure, Biden’s supporters continue to assert that his position remains unchanged. Quentin Fulks, Biden’s campaign deputy manager, reiterated that the campaign is not considering any scenarios where Biden is not the nominee.
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