But that statement never came.After Wednesday’s luncheon, many Black House Democrats began privately expressing concerns about Biden’s chances of winning and the potential impact on vulnerable members running in battleground districts, according to four people familiar with the discussions.
Members also increasingly accused the White House and those around Biden of not properly guiding the president, refusing to focus on issues that would resonate with their own constituents and help solidify support for Biden. Staff changes are needed.
“I think there are people within the CBC who are concerned about what’s going on in the White House, both what’s happening and what’s not happening, but it’s not an issue of division,” Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II (D-Missouri) said. “The White House has to be united. That may be the universal position of the CBC, that may be the position of the Democratic caucus,” he said in a brief interview.
The growing concern from Biden’s most important base reflects the volatile situation in Congress, where a growing number of Democrats are calling on the president to forgo reelection. Senior Biden aides arrived at the Capitol at noon Thursday to brief Democratic senators, of whom only Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vermont) explicitly called on Biden to step aside. Many senators said they wanted to wait to see how Biden handled the situation at a rare news conference Thursday evening before passing judgment.
If Biden ends up dramatically underperforming, Several House Democrats are expected to issue a statement calling on the president to resign, according to four people familiar with the planning, who, like the other people, asked not to be identified discussing the private discussions.
At the Senate luncheon, Biden’s senior aides outlined the theory of the case they outlined in a memo circulated to supporters, pointing to the “blue wall” states of Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania and dismissing any shift in public opinion after the debate, which hasn’t changed much since. “While we believe there is a clear path forward, there is no indication that anyone else has the ability to match up to and outperform President Trump,” the campaign wrote.
There is a strong belief among House Democrats that Biden must make a decision about his campaign’s future without significant public pressure, reflected in his vague comments this week.
The division among House Democrats comes as factions of their caucus see the historic moment as more important than Biden. Lawmakers deeply concerned about Biden’s chances of winning have privately said he must realize that preserving democracy and keeping Trump from winning the White House are more important than his personal ambitions.
“We face a stark choice: either we patiently weather this election and pray that we can successfully defend our democracy, or we enthusiastically embrace a vibrant vision for the future that builds on the great foundation that President Biden has laid for our country over the past four years. I choose the latter,” said Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.). Schneider on Thursday became the second House Democrat to voice his opposition to Biden, joining Rep. Hillary J. Scholten (D-Mich.).
Some House Democrats have been taking their concerns directly to those around Biden rather than making public statements, according to two people familiar with the conversations.
Several Black Democrats on Thursday rejected suggestions that there are deep divisions within the CBC.
Rep. Gregory W. Meeks, D-N.Y. and chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, has led a group of Black Democrats who have privately expressed concerns about Biden’s ability to stay at the top of the shortlist. Meeks thinks Biden and his aides need to do a better job of talking to CBC members and other lawmakers about what it will take to win in battleground states, said two people who spoke with CBC members this week. The people, like others featured in this article, spoke on the condition of anonymity to share their conversations privately.
“Chairman Meeks has never stopped supporting the President,” a CBC PAC spokesperson said. “In fact, he has said in public what he has said privately. President Biden has a proven track record of serving the American people and is committed to the campaign, but after the debate the President must demonstrate that he has the energy and stamina to get the job done. The Chairman expects the President to demonstrate just that, and believes members should give him the space to do so and make a decision from there.”
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), a public Biden supporter and CBC member, is in a tricky position: It would be hard for Jeffries to publicly confront major groups, several lawmakers and aides said. But many lawmakers concerned about Biden feel the minority leader understands them.
The House’s veteran leaders, former Speakers Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.) and James E. Clyburn (D-Calif.), have spoken casually and publicly about paths Biden might consider, but the current new generation of House leadership finds itself in a more difficult position as it continues to listen to members with vastly different views.
Mr. Jeffries and leadership aides told lawmakers they should run the campaign with or without Mr. Biden, according to three people involved in the conversations. Ms. Pelosi was more forthright in private conversations, telling front-line lawmakers it would probably be best for them to take a stance against Mr. Biden but advised them to wait until after the NATO meeting on Friday.
Jeffries laid out his plan in two separate meetings this week, according to two people familiar with the matter. Jeffries must balance rooting for Biden among black Democrats, many of whom come from safe districts, with accurately representing the concerns of front-line Democrats who represent much more competitive districts. Whether Biden makes it to the top of the shortlist, and how much he holds back, could also determine whether he becomes speaker of the tight House of Representatives.
Those meetings, according to multiple people familiar with the matter, were emotional, frank and solemn, with weaker Democrats taking a very tough stance against Biden, making it clear that if Biden didn’t step down, it would ultimately jeopardize their reelection chances and Jeffries’ chances as speaker.
Many believe that if Vice President Harris becomes the nominee, it will automatically improve her political standing, not only because it will immediately eliminate the age issue, but also because it will help Democrats restart the debate to defeat Trump.
“If Biden remains in the lead, there is no path to taking back the House,” a senior Democratic aide said.
Other major factions besides the CBC are divided. The Congressional Hispanic Caucus is also deeply divided over how it assesses Biden’s chances of winning, and has not issued a group statement. Chair Nanette Barragan (D-Calif.) and Vice Chair Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.) issued a joint statement endorsing Biden after a group meeting earlier this week that angered some members.
“On something as controversial as this, she should have checked with the membership before speaking under her CHC title,” one Democratic lawmaker said.
Mariana Alfaro contributed to this report.
