Though Biden says he's staying in race, top Democrats express doubts

Washington — Nearly 2 weeks aft a disastrous debate, President Biden remains adamant that he's staying successful the contention amid circling doubts and reserved expressions of enactment from members of his party.

He said this week successful a letter to legislature Democrats he's "firmly committed" to running, but immoderate Democrats successful Congress are inactive saying Mr. Biden faces a determination astir continuing his campaign, suggesting that his aboriginal connected the summons remains an unfastened question.

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, erstwhile asked Wednesday greeting whether Mr. Biden has her enactment to pb the ticket, deferred to Mr. Biden, saying that "it's up to the president" to determine if he's going to run.

"We're each encouraging him to marque that decision," she said connected MSNBC. "Because clip is moving short."

The effect fell abbreviated of a ringing endorsement for the president's reelection bid, though Pelosi complimented the president connected his code astatine an lawsuit marking the 75th day of NATO connected Tuesday night, saying helium was "absolutely spectacular." And she touted his grounds and lasting wrong the Democratic caucus. 

"He's beloved, helium is respected and radical privation him to marque that decision," Pelosi said, adding that "I privation him to bash immoderate helium decides to do."

President Joe Biden pauses portion speaking during a NATO 75th day celebratory lawsuit astatine the Andrew Mellon Auditorium connected July 9, 2024 successful Washington, DC. Andrew Harnik / Getty Images

Meanwhile, Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado connected Tuesday nighttime expressed uncertainty that the president volition beryllium capable to bushed erstwhile President Donald Trump successful November, successful the astir captious comments made publically by a Senate Democrat truthful acold successful the aftermath of the debate. 

"Donald Trump is connected track, I think, to triumph this election, and possibly triumph it by a landslide, and instrumentality with him the Senate and the House," Bennet said connected CNN, though helium stopped abbreviated of calling connected Mr. Biden to measurement aside. 

The Colorado Democrat pointed to wherever the president stands successful polls astatine this point, arsenic compared to wherever helium stood against Trump astatine this clip successful 2020, arsenic good arsenic wherever Hillary Clinton stood against Trump successful 2016, saying "this contention is connected a trajectory that is precise worrisome." 

Explaining wherefore helium isn't calling connected the president to measurement aside, Bennet said that "we're each present this week, to person this discussion, to person this debate," astir the president's prospects, though helium added that the White House has "done nothing" to show a program to triumph the predetermination pursuing the debate.  

The comments travel aft congressional Democrats met on Tuesday, pursuing a July 4 vacation recess that kept them retired of Washington since the statement past month. House Democrats met Tuesday greeting for what 1 subordinate described arsenic a "listening session." And Senate Democrats held a lengthy gathering Tuesday day that near immoderate touting unity wrong the caucus, though astir remained tight-lipped astir the details of the meeting. Neither gathering appeared to output a way guardant for the party. 

Particularly successful the Senate, Democrats person adopted a wait-and-see approach, with nary Senate Democrats having publically called for the president to measurement aside. Instead, a fig of Democrats, similar Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, person outlined that they privation to spot much from the president, saying helium "must bash much to show helium tin run beardown capable to bushed Donald Trump."

Outside of the Capitol, different admittance astir the president's quality to service different word made waves precocious Tuesday, erstwhile a video surfaced from TMZ showing ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos saying astir the president that "I don't deliberation helium tin service 4 much years." Stephanopoulos conducted the archetypal interview of the president past week since his statement astir the way forward. 

The developments travel arsenic apical Democrats person continued to backmost the president, albeit with reserved statements of support. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries reiterated his enactment for the president this week, saying, "I made wide publically the time aft the statement that I enactment President Joe Biden and the Democratic ticket. My presumption has not changed." 

After Tuesday's meeting, Jeffries told reporters that members had an accidental to explicit themselves, and "those discussions volition proceed passim the equilibrium of the week." Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, repeatedly asked astir the president's quality to service different 4 years during a play quality league pursuing the Senate meeting, simply said "I'm with Joe." 

Kate Farrell contributed to this report. 

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• Joe Biden
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