President Joe Biden has privately acknowledged that the upcoming days are crucial for determining whether he can save his reelection bid. Speaking to an ally on Tuesday, he expressed his understanding of what might lead him to step aside: “It’s just not working.” According to this source, Biden is clear-eyed about the situation. There is no ambiguity for the president regarding the events in the coming weeks that could force him to admit his efforts to recover from the debate are failing. “The polls are plummeting, the fundraising is drying up, and the interviews are going badly. He’s not oblivious,” the source said.
Quick Read
- Biden acknowledges critical days ahead for reelection bid
- President Joe Biden privately admits the next few days are crucial for his reelection campaign.
- Biden has conveyed to an ally that he understands the severity of his situation: “It’s just not working.”
- He is aware that declining polls, dwindling fundraising, and poor interviews could force him to reconsider his candidacy.
- Biden blames himself for the debate failure, citing exhaustion from back-to-back foreign trips.
- He aims to put the debate behind him and focus on future engagements.
- Biden is set to meet with over 20 Democratic governors to address party concerns following his debate performance.
- Governors expected to attend include Gavin Newsom, J.B. Pritzker, Kathy Hochul, Andy Beshear, and others, either in person or virtually.
The Associated Press has the story:
Biden privately admits critical days ahead for whether he can save his reelection bid
Newslooks- WASHINGTON (AP)
President Joe Biden has privately acknowledged that the next stretch of days are critical to whether he can save his re-election bid for president, making clear to an ally Tuesday that he understands what would prompt him to accept: “It’s just not working.” “He sees the moment. He’s clear-eyed,” this person, who spoke to Biden on Tuesday.
There is no ambiguity for the president on what series of events in the coming weeks would ultimately prompt him to acknowledge that his attempt to make amends for the disastrous debate aren’t working. “The polls are plummeting, the fundraising is drying up, and the interviews are going badly. He’s not oblivious,” the person said.
In the days since Biden’s stunningly halting debate showing, Democrats across the country have expressed grave concern. Some elected officials have even begun to publicly call on Biden to drop out for the good of the party.
In Tuesday’s private conversation, Biden was also “chastened” as he “blamed himself” – and not his staff — for the terrible debate last week.
“He said: ‘I have done way too much foreign policy,’” this person said. Biden said that the back-to-back trips to France and Italy – and the jet lag and exhaustion that had caused – was detrimental for the debate, but wanted to put the debate in the rearview mirror.
The president had said at a fundraiser in Virginia Tuesday night that going on two significant foreign trips right before the debate had been a bad idea.
The New York Times first reported Biden’s private acknowledgement.
Biden is expected to meet with more than 20 Democratic governors today
President Joe Biden is expected to meet with more than 20 Democratic governors Wednesday.
The group includes some state executives mentioned as potential replacements – as the incumbent attempts to address concerns within the party following his poor debate performance.
Two sources familiar with the meeting said that among those planning to attend in person are:
- Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz
- California Gov. Gavin Newsom
- Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker
- New York Gov. Kathy Hochul
- Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear
- Maryland Gov. Wes Moore
- Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey
- Rhode Island Gov. Daniel McKee
Other governors are expected to attend by Zoom or phone, including North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro.
The event is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET in the Roosevelt Room and is closed to press. Democratic governors are expected to air their concerns about Biden after his shaky debate showing last week. Some of the governors wanted to meet with the White House to discuss their concerns, sources said.
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