According to a new report, behind closed doors, President Joe Biden has become more “receptive” to the possibility of withdrawing from the 2024 presidential race.
A senior Democratic adviser who spoke with CNN late on Wednesday shared with the outlet that the 81-year-old president is now more open to the idea of withdrawing from the 2024 presidential race.
“He’s being receptive. Not as defiant as he is publicly,” the senior Democratic adviser shared.
Biden, who tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday, has remained adamant that he is the only Democrat who can beat Trump in a head-to-head matchup, despite a growing faction in his party telling him he can’t following his disastrous debate performance last month.
“He’s gone from saying, ‘Kamala can’t win,’ to ‘Do you think Kamala can win?” the adviser continued. “It’s still unclear where he’s going to land, but seems to be listening.”
The adviser shared with CNN that Biden’s conversations are continuing.
The report comes following two others that shared Biden had received doubt and pressure to drop out from two of the strongest Democratic voices in Congress.
ABC News reported that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schummer told Biden during a meeting on Saturday that it would be better for the country and Democrats if he stepped down as the nominee.
Another CNN report said that former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also discussed this with Biden, telling him that polls showed he could not beat Trump. She also discussed the possibility of his campaign stopping the Democrats’ chance of winning back control of the House.
Still, Biden’s campaign maintains that he has not thought about running for reelection and that he still plans to be on the ballot in November.
“If the facts matter – and they should – here is one: President Biden is the Democratic nominee, and he is going to win this November,” Biden spokesman Kevin Munoz said.