Pressure builds on Capitol Hill for Biden to "step aside"

• "The dam is breaking," said another Democratic lawmaker.
• A third House Democrat said Biden should "step down and help lead a transition of candidacy" and that a "very large majority of the caucus shares this sentiment."
• A fourth lawmaker said House Democrats have been "inundated" by nervous constituents and stakeholders in their districts this week: "So many people are telling us he can't win, he's got to withdraw."

The latest: Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.), the ranking member of the House Natural Resources Committee, became the second sitting House Democrat to call on Biden to resign, joining Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas).

• "What he needs to do is shoulder the responsibility for keeping that seat — and part of that responsibility is to get out of this race," Grijalva told the New York Times. His office didn't immediately respond to a request for confirmation.

State of play: The president is attempting to shore up support from congressional leaders and calm rank-and-file Democrats, but House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) is hearing from members who are adamant he needs to go.

• One House Democrat told Axios that Jeffries has had "a lot of communication" with his members to "gauge feelings and sentiment and ... figure out where the consensus really is."
• The lawmaker added that a "very broad swath of the House Democratic caucus representing diverse ideology, geography and backgrounds ... believes that a change in candidacy is necessary."
• Biden and Jeffries spoke by phone Tuesday night, a source familiar with the matter told Axios.

What we're hearing: A group of newer House Democrats, most first elected in 2018 and many representing swing districts, told Jeffries in one discussion that they cannot risk their reputations by supporting Biden, several sources familiar with the conversation told Axios.

• The "consensus" was that lawmakers are "resigned to the inevitability" that Democrats need a new candidate and have come around to Vice President Kamala Harris as the replacement, one source said.
• The often inscrutable Jeffries did not tip his hand in the discussion, the source added, describing him as "exceedingly politic as usual."
• A draft letter calling for Biden to withdraw is circulating among lawmakers, according to two House Democrats, with one saying it is "all anyone is talking about." The letter was first reported by Bloomberg.

Zoom out: There is a growing exasperation not only towards Biden's poor debate performance Thursday but with the way his team has handled the fallout.

• Several House Democrats, while stopping short of calling Biden to step aside, have publicly chastised his campaign for its dismissive attitude towards doubts about his age.
• Rep. Scott Peters (D-Calif.) told Axios the campaign has been "arrogant" by blasting doubters as "bedwetters" and "Davos Dems," adding that it "needs to answer some questions that are serious, and I don't think they will because this is not moving in the right direction."
• A pre-planned political messaging meeting for House Democrats on Tuesday devolved into a Biden vent session, with lawmakers referring to the president as the "donkey in the room.

Yes, but: One House Democrat cautioned that the belief Biden should step down still isn't universal.

• Some members of the Congressional Black Caucus are making the case to colleagues that they need to form ranks around Biden, the lawmaker said.
• Publicly, Jeffries, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and other senior Democrats like Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.), the former House majority whip, have affirmed their support for Biden.

The other side: In a memo sent to congressional Democrats on Wednesday morning, a copy of which was obtained by Axios, the Biden campaign said its fundraising is strong and that polls continue to show a tight race.

• The memo also pointed to Biden's planned interview Friday with ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos.
• Even if Biden begins to drop significantly in the polls — a New York Times survey out Wednesday showed Trump's lead widening post debate — it would be "a moment in time and not a reshaping of the race," the memo said.
• The Biden campaign has stressed that the president is "absolutely" not dropping out of the race.

What to watch: House Democratic leaders are expected to discuss the matter on a call Wednesday afternoon, a source familiar with the plans told Axios.

• House Democrats also have their usual caucus meeting scheduled for next Tuesday, according to an invite shared with Axios – a discussion that will almost certainly touch on Biden's candidacy.

The bottom line: "Hakeem is the key," said one House Democrat. "When you start seeing signals from him, I think the whole herd will follow quickly."

Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional statements from Democrats and with new polling information.