A top Democrat in the House, Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., said Tuesday that Democrats “have to support” President Joe Biden, walking back calls he reportedly made in private for Biden to step down in the race—an indication Democrats may be coming to terms with Biden’s refusal to drop his re-election bid.
Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY) speaks at a news conference on the Protecting Our Democracy Act, at the ... [+]
Nadler told reporters Monday Biden’s insistence on staying the race was “dispositive,” adding “whether or not I have concerns is beside the point,” he said, according to multiple reports.
Nadler was one of four Democrats who said privately in a phone call with colleagues over the weekend that Biden should drop his bid, multiple outlets reported, bringing the total number of elected Democrats calling on Biden to step down to nine.
Nadler’s reversal represents a broader shift in Biden’s favor as the president has firmly dismissed any calls for him to step aside.
After returning to Washington Monday from a holiday recess, no new congressional Democrats called on Biden to step down, but multiple voiced their support for the president, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and Rep. Steve Horsford, D-Nev., chair of the powerful Congressional Black Caucus.
Trump also predicted Monday that Biden would stay in the race, telling Fox News’ Sean Hannity “he’s got an ego, and he doesn’t want to quit.”
Democrats are reportedly deeply divided about the future of Biden’s candidacy. Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., told reporters “we’re not even in the same book” while exiting a meeting of House Democrats at Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee headquarters Tuesday.
Biden has repeatedly dismissed calls to step down in the race, rejecting his detractors as “elites” and “billionaires” who don’t represent the “average voter,” who he insists want him to continue running, he said Monday on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” Biden has launched an attempt over the past week to undo the damage from his June 27 debate performance, sitting for a series of interviews, making campaign stops in key battleground states and rallying his supporters in Congress. In a letter to congressional Democrats Monday, Biden told them he’s “firmly committed” to staying in the race and expressed confidence he is the “best person to beat Donald Trump.”
Biden Tells Democrats He’s ‘Firmly Committed’ To Staying In The Race Amid Mounting Calls To Drop Out (Forbes)
Biden Doubles Down As Donors Question Campaign: ‘I Don’t Care What The Billionaires Think’ (Forbes)