“Candid, comprehensive, clear conversations” is the oft-used phrase House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries is now using to describe the internal turmoil facing House Democrats.
Eleven Democrats in the House of Representatives, mostly vulnerable moderates, have publicly called on Biden to step aside. Progressives — who criticized him over Israel just weeks ago — are now firmly behind him.
The rest of the group is weighing whether to increase public pressure on the president to resign. All eyes will be on Biden’s press conference at NATO on Thursday at 6:30 p.m.
“Our conversations have been candid, extensive and clear, and they continue,” Jeffries said in response to multiple questions about Biden’s fitness for the Democratic nomination during a weekly news conference.
“Candid, comprehensive, clear conversations” is the alliterative phrase House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries is now using to describe the internal turmoil facing Democrats in the House of Representatives.
“That’s a speculative question, and as I indicated, we are engaged in an internal process that we take seriously. And until that process is completed, I’m not really in a position to comment,” he said when asked about what happens if Biden “doesn’t deliver” during a press briefing Thursday night.
When asked if Biden would have any impact on lower-district elections, Jeffries gave a terse “no.”
Democrats will take control of the House of Representatives “On November 5th,” he insisted.
The New York Democrat said members will “engage with their constituents at home” and decide for themselves whether to call on Biden to resign after his performance at last month’s debate.
Now, 11 Democrats in the House of Representatives have said publicly that it is time for Biden to step aside. Many others have said so privately or plan to do so if Biden’s performance at the press conference is not up to par.
In the Senate, Peter Welch, D-Vt., has asked the president to make way for another nominee, and Sen. Michael Bennet predicted Biden will lose Democrats in both chambers of Congress and the executive branch.
‘If things continue as they are, there is a good chance that Donald Trump will win the election and that we will lose the Senate and the House of Representatives.’
Eleven Democrats in the House of Representatives, mostly vulnerable moderates, have publicly called on Biden to step aside. Progressives — who criticized him on Israel just weeks ago — are now firmly behind him
Jeffries’ fellow Democrat Ritchie Torres of New York criticized Biden on X on Thursday, days after he called such comments “very destructive.”
“The story that the president had just one bad debate performance reflects an ongoing pattern of denial and self-deception. The president did not have just one ‘bad debate.’ The reality we saw with our own lying eyes is evidence of a deeper challenge,” he wrote.
“The idea that the president is going to be saved by this interview or that press conference is missing the forest for the trees. I will listen with respect to the president’s press conference tonight and the interview on Monday night, but the ability to survive one public appearance is the bare minimum of what you can expect from a Democratic candidate.”
“Neither tonight’s press conference nor Monday night’s NBC interview will offer the president the political salvation he appears to be seeking.”
Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Jeffries’ predecessor, has publicly stressed that the door remains open for Biden to withdraw from the race, even though he says he has already made his decision.
Asked whether Biden has her support on MSNBC’s Morning Joe, the former speaker said: “It’s up to the president to decide whether he runs. We all encourage him to make that decision because time is running out.”
Pelosi recalled that Biden had already made his decision, saying, “I want him to do whatever he decides to do.”
“Whatever he decides, we’ll go ahead with it.”
Behind closed doors she has told people that Biden cannot win and should step aside, according to Politico.