Dem revolt grows, Biden digs in
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🥊 President Biden faces a growing revolt among frustrated congressional Democrats who say he should abandon his re-election bid — but he spent today signaling he was digging in for a fight.
- "I am running. I am the leader of the Democratic Party. No one is pushing me out," Biden told his campaign staffers on a call in which he was joined by Vice President Kamala Harris.
- 📞 The call — along with a similar one Chief of Staff Jeff Zients held for those at the White House — was aimed at boosting morale among Biden staffers, who were frustrated and angered by top Biden aides' slow, dismissive response to concerns about his debate performance last week.
- Biden also met with several Democratic governors this evening.
⛈️ But trouble for Biden continues to brew among Democrats on Capitol Hill.
- ⚡️ A growing number of House Democrats want the 81-year-old president to step aside, fearing that the longer he's in the race, the worse it'll be for the party's congressional candidates — and the better it'll be for Donald Trump.
👀 Several described to Axios significant movement away from Biden just today, with one saying that "over the last few hours, I am starting to hear from [Democratic] delegates that they really love Joe but want him to step aside."
- Another 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 third lawmaker said House Democrats have been "inundated" by nervous constituents: "So many people are telling us he can't win, he's got to withdraw."
As Biden tries to shore up support from congressional leaders and members, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) is hearing from members who say Biden 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 late yesterday, 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 they can't 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 Harris as the likely replacement, one source said.
- 📄 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.
😒 Several Democrats continue to express annoyance at how Biden's team has responded to their concerns about his age and acuity.
- Rep. Scott Peters (D-Calif.) told Axios that Biden's campaign has been "arrogant" by blasting Democratic doubters as "bedwetters" and "Davos Dems." He added Biden's team "needs to answer some questions that are serious, and I don't think they will because this is not moving in the right direction."
👉 One House Democrat cautioned that not all Democratic lawmakers think Biden should step down.
- Members of the Congressional Black Caucus are urging colleagues to back Biden, the lawmaker said.
- Publicly, Jeffries, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and other senior Democrats such as Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.), the former House majority whip, have affirmed their support for Biden.
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."
