NEW YORK, Jul 19 (APP): Former US President Barack Obama has told allies in the Democratic Party recently that President Joe Biden’s path to victory has greatly diminished and he believes the president needs to seriously consider the viability of his candidacy, according to multiple American media reports published on Thursday.
The reports pointed out that Obama has spoken with Biden only once since the debate, and he has been clear in his conversations with others that the future of Biden’s candidacy is a decision for the president to make. He has emphasized that his concern is protecting Biden and his legacy, and has pushed back against the idea that he alone can influence Biden’s decision-making process.
Other Democrats including US Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi have more openly urged President Biden to withdraw from his re-election campaign over concerns he cannot defeat Republican challenger Donald Trump.
Schumer told Biden in a meeting on Saturday it would be better for the country and the Democratic Party if he ended his re-election campaign, ABC News reported on Wednesday.
US House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries has expressed similar views directly to Biden, ABC News reported, citing a source familiar with the conversation.
CNN reported on Wednesday that Pelosi, too, has told Biden polling shows he cannot defeat Trump and that the president could destroy the Democrats’ chances of winning back control of the House of Representatives.
Pelosi spoke to Biden in a recent telephone call, CNN reported, citing four sources briefed on the call. None of the sources indicated Pelosi told Biden he should leave the race, CNN said.
A Pelosi spokesperson told CNN that Pelosi has not spoken to Biden since Friday.
Earlier on Wednesday, Democratic US Congressman Adam Schiff became the 20th congressional Democrat to publicly call for Biden to drop out of the race.
Schiff, a key congressional power broker, praised Biden but told the Los Angeles Times that he doubts that the incumbent can defeat Trump – a threat to “the very foundation of our democracy”.
He is one of the party’s most influential members and a key ally in the legislature for the White House.
He served as chairman of the House intelligence panel when Democrats had the majority in 2019 and shot to nationwide prominence as lead prosecutor during then-president Trump’s first impeachment trial.
Meanwhile, Schumer’s office responded to the report about his meeting with the president with a statement calling it “idle speculation” and said Schumer “conveyed the views of his caucus directly to President Biden on Saturday”.
Jeffries’ office did not immediately respond to a request for comment, according to reports.
“The President told both leaders he is the nominee of the party, he plans to win, and looks forward to working with both of them to pass his 100 days agenda to help working families,” White House spokesman Andrew Bates said in a statement.
Democratic concern about the 81-year-old incumbent’s ability to beat Republican challenger Trump, or to serve another four years in office, surged after Biden’s halting June 27 debate performance.
Biden has so far refused to drop out, and blamed his debate debacle, when he appeared tired and confused, on a bad cold and jet lag.
