Scoop: Ohio Dems tell presidential delegates to keep quiet about Biden

• The state party seems intent on keeping its more than 80 delegates from joining the chorus.

Driving the news: State Sen. Bill DeMora (D-Columbus), who serves as the Ohio Democratic Party (ODP) convention and delegate director, urged the delegates in an email Monday afternoon to keep mum.

• "ODP and the Biden campaign are asking folks to NOT respond to reporter calls at this time. We are putting together talking points for folks and I will send them out as soon as they are available," reads the email obtained by Axios.

What they're saying: DeMora told Axios in an interview the email was sent to keep delegates from sharing inaccurate details about the convention's complex rules system.

• Many of the Ohio delegates — which include party loyalists and state and local elected officials — will be convention first-timers, he added.

State of play: The Democratic National Committee made plans to nominate the ticket virtually before the Chicago convention, which starts Aug. 19.

• This was in order to meet Ohio's original Aug. 7 deadline to qualify for the ballot, but Gov. Mike DeWine has signed legislation to move the deadline back.
• Biden insists he is not dropping out.

Between the lines: U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), facing re-election in a crucial race that could decide the Senate's balance, has not taken a position on Biden's status in the race, NBC News reports.

• "I'm not a pundit. I've talked to people across Ohio," Brown reportedly said during a recent visit to Youngstown.
• "They have legitimate questions about whether the president should continue his campaign, and I'll keep listening to people."