Democratic candidates run away from Biden

What we're hearing: One swing-district House Democrat, speaking on the condition of anonymity, described frantic efforts to avoid a visit from the president or even First Lady Jill Biden.

• "I don't ever want to see him here," the lawmaker said of Biden, adding that "every single donor — and I'm only calling major donors — is furious and wants him to step aside."
• A senior House Democrat, also speaking on the condition of anonymity, relayed discussions with swing district members who are "freaking out" about Biden's impact on their races.

The big picture: Distancing from an unpopular president is a well-worn strategy in congressional races, but Biden's unique political vulnerabilities as the oldest president in history have given the dynamic a new dimension.

• While congressional Democrats have generally polled ahead of Biden this cycle, fears are mounting that his unpopularity will be an inescapable drag on their races.
• A House Democrat in a modestly Democratic-leaning district told Axios during Thursday's debate: "I'm not a frontliner, but Trump could expand [the electoral map] to a point where I'm in a 1- or 2-point race."
• "House races have always been about the strength of our candidates," said Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokesperson Viet Shelton.

State of play: While some members openly acknowledged Biden's poor performance, many swing district House Democrats put their backs into dodging questions about it at the Capitol on Friday, with one even reportedly appearing to fake a phone call.

• "I'm in a rush, thanks. I'm in a rush," said another, Rep. Pat Ryan (D-N.Y.), when asked about the debate.
• Rep. Mary Peltola (D-Alaska), who represents the most Republican-leaning district of any Democrat, told Axios she is "not thinking about anybody's race but my own."
• Missy Cotter Smasal, a Democratic House candidate in Virginia, turned heads by pulling out of a Democratic Party event scheduled for the morning after the debate that was meant to counter-program a Trump rally in the district later that day.

What they're saying: Biden campaign official Jen O'Malley Dillon, in a memo Saturday, said "the beltway class is counting Joe Biden out" but that "data in the battleground states ... tells a different story."

• O'Malley Dillon pointed to a raft of polls that suggest the tight presidential contest remains largely unchanged – despite voters' underlying concerns about Biden's age.
• She also said the campaign raised $27 million between debate day and Friday evening and saw a record-breaking three hour stretch on debate night. Biden's fundraisers on Saturday also exceeded the campaign's expectations, according to a source familiar with the matter.
• Biden campaign spokesperson Mia Ehrenberg said Biden has a record of "historic results" that "the president and Democrats across the country will be running on in November."

The other side: "Going into witness protection doesn't change the fact that extreme House Democrats knew for months that Joe Biden wasn't fit to serve," said National Republican Congressional Committee spokesperson Will Reinert.

• The NRCC has been taking aim at Democrats, such as Peltola, who are on tape attempting to assuage public concerns about Biden's mental acuity.
• "I am focused on my race 100% of the time. The only person who has a district bigger than mine is Joe Biden. So I have a full plate," Peltola said.