President Joe Biden is facing mounting pressure from top Democrats to contemplate stepping aside from the 2024 election in a bid to prevent widespread losses for the party in November. Currently isolated at his beach house in Delaware due to a COVID infection, Biden's inner circle has dwindled as he deliberates on whether to bow to the increasing calls for him to drop out.
The Biden For President campaign has scheduled an all-staff meeting, while the Democratic National Committee's rulemaking arm is moving forward with plans for a virtual roll call to nominate a presidential candidate before their convention in Chicago.
A majority of Democrats believe Vice President Kamala Harris would make a good president, according to a recent poll. Former President Barack Obama and Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi have expressed concerns to Biden about the potential consequences of him staying in the race.
Despite the mounting pressure, Biden remains committed to his election bid, with no internal discussions within the West Wing about him dropping out. However, some key Democrats see an opportunity to encourage his exit while he is away from the campaign for a few days.
Biden, who recently tested positive for COVID-19, has downplayed concerns about his political recovery, emphasizing that the focus on the November election typically intensifies closer to September.
Congressional Democrats have started private discussions about supporting Harris as an alternative candidate, with some lawmakers and donors expressing strong concerns about the current state of the party. While there are voices advocating for Biden to stay in the race, a significant portion of Democrats nationwide believe he should step aside to allow the party to nominate a different candidate.
