Congressional Democrats warn Biden: This isn't over
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President Biden at the NATO summit in Washington, D.C., on July 10. Photo: Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto via Getty Images
As President Biden tries to shore up support on Capitol Hill, congressional Democrats with doubts about his candidacy are making clear they won't be silenced so easily.
Why it matters: The president has said firmly he is not dropping his candidacy, but nothing he or his team have done so far has been enough to quiet his persistent detractors.
- "We all acknowledge the reality that this is the president's decision. From there, some say, 'Well, he made his decision so the matter is closed.' But even if they want it to be closed, it's not always that simple," Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) told Axios.
- He added: "I think this will necessarily continue to be fluid, certainly until we get past the NATO summit but maybe all the way to the Dem convention."
Driving the news: Just as the door appeared to be closing on efforts to get Biden off the ticket, with dozens of Democrats throwing their support behind him, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) swung it back open on Wednesday morning.
- "It's up to the president to decide if he is going to run. We're all encouraging him to make that decision because time is running short," Pelosi said on MSNBC's "Morning Joe," despite Biden stating firmly that he is staying in the race.
- Rep. Pat Ryan (D-N.Y.) also became the eighth House Democrat to publicly urge Biden to withdraw, telling the New York Times he would be doing a "grave disservice if I said he was the best candidate to serve this fall."
- And House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) met with a group of swing-district Democrats and the leaders of the center-left New Democrat Coalition — two centers of opposition to Biden's nomination.
Zoom in: Senate Democrats remained icy on the topic Wednesday, offering, at best, vague and evasive answers on Biden's future.
- Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), asked whether Biden will be the Democratic nominee in November, said, "I think we'll land in a place where we win in November."
- "And, right now, he is the nominee," Warnock added.
- Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), who told Axios on Tuesday that he supports Biden as the nominee, said Wednesday he is "deeply concerned about Joe Biden winning this November."
What we're hearing: Wednesday's events buoyed the hopes of some on Capitol Hill that there is still a chance to exert enough pressure on the president to force him to withdraw.
- "I think Oceans 81 is not going into production," quipped one House Democrat, referring to the 81-year-old Biden.
- "I thought it was over yesterday," said Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.). "Now I think differently."
Reality check: The Biden campaign pointed to the president's letter on Monday telling congressional Democrats he is "firmly committed to staying in the race" and that talk of him withdrawing must "end."
- Biden has also received public pronouncements of support from dozens of House and Senate Democrats, including Pelosi, who told reporters after her "Morning Joe" appearance: "I think he can win."
- Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.), a former House majority whip seen as one of the few lawmakers who can influence Biden's thinking, doubled down, telling reporters: "I'm still riding with Biden."
What's next: Biden campaign advisers, including campaign chair Jen O'Malley Dillon, will speak to Senate Democrats at their lunch on Thursday afternoon, a Senate Democratic leadership source told Axios.
- Some lawmakers will be closely watching Biden's NATO press conference on Thursday: "We'll see how he does ... it could trip him up," said Cohen.
The bottom line: "People ... aren't willing to let it go. It's not going to go away," said one House Democrat.
Editor's note: This article has been updated with comment from Rep. Steve Cohen.
