A Democratic senator told DailyMail.com that Democrats are “nervous” about the negative impact President Biden could have on the lower-tier election if he remains at the top, as his party grapples with doubts about his health and ability to defeat Donald Trump.
After President Joe Biden’s terrible debate performance nearly two weeks ago, speculation began about his replacement as the Democratic presidential nominee. And that speculation has not abated.
Some Democratic lawmakers have split, saying they do not believe Biden is the party’s best candidate to defeat former President Donald Trump.
So far, at least eight Democrats in the House of Representatives have publicly called on Biden to withdraw from the race, but there have been no defections in the Senate, at least not yet.
In an exclusive video obtained by DailyMail.com on Tuesday, Democrat Senator Sherrod Brown openly admitted to donors that there is “nervousness” among his colleagues about the upcoming election.
Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, said there is “nervousness” in the party about the “national ticket”
Brown, from Ohio, discussed how lower-level Democrats will fare in November now that Biden is in the lead.
He said that despite the fact that there are many Democratic candidates who “surpass the national slate,” according to a Zoom fundraising meeting recording, it is concerning that Biden is the leader.
The Zoom meeting, organized by San Francisco consultant Jon Foster, was intended to raise money for several Democratic Party Senate campaigns.
The invitation stated that money would go toward the races of Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland, Colin Allred of Texas, Debbie Mucarsel-Powell of Florida, Elissa Slotkin of Michigan and Ruben Gallego of Arizona.
“I’ve been following all five races. One of them had a particularly tough primary, but all five candidates have shown great skill and know how to win their races,” Brown said during the Zoom call.
“I like it when people who run for Senate know how to win. And when we’ve had really good years, like this year, I see that.”
He then went on to mention the conversations that have been going on in Washington DC all week that are raising doubts about Biden’s ability to win.
“I know there’s some nervousness right now,” Brown said.
“But I look at all of these candidates who are ahead of the national ticket, every single one of them, as are all five prospective incumbent senators. I know that when we won in 2020 and took the Senate after Ossoff and Warnock, the first Jewish, the first Black senators from Georgia ever won, we were ready and we accomplished great things.”
President Joe Biden during the NATO summit welcome ceremony in Washington, DC on Wednesday
Rep. Mark Takano, D-Cali., (second from right) keeps a serious face as he ignores questions from reporters after the crucial meeting
The strange stumbling blocks over the party’s current position on their presumptive nominee underscore Democrats’ current struggle in Washington with whether the president will lead the party to victory in November or whether their chances of defeating Trump and retaining control of Congress will be dashed.
“I’ve talked to people all over Ohio. They have legitimate questions about whether the president should stay,” Brown said Wednesday.
He dodged questions about whether Biden should step down as party leader.
On Tuesday, after a meeting of Democratic senators, it was reported that several lawmakers had doubts about Biden’s chances against Trump.
Brown and Senators Michael Bennett of Colorado and Jon Tester of Montana privately told their colleagues during the meeting that they do not believe the president can defeat the former president.
But how Democratic lawmakers will handle their Biden dilemma remains to be seen.