Reports from CNN and the New York Times are claiming Joe Biden has privately conceded that the coming days are crucial to determining the viability of his reelection bid, and that his campaign may not be salvageable. The White House denies these reports.
According to CNN, Biden candidly told an ally on Tuesday that he is aware of the stakes and what might force him to reconsider his campaign: “It’s just not working.”
“He sees the moment. He’s clear-eyed,” the source told CNN, emphasizing Biden's awareness of the potential tipping point.
Biden is reportedly under no illusions about the combination of factors that could lead him to acknowledge that his efforts to recover from last week’s debate debacle on CNN are failing. According to the source, Biden recognizes that a scenario where “the polls are plummeting, the fundraising is drying up, and the interviews are going badly” would be decisive.
Since Biden’s faltering performance in the debate, Democrats nationwide have voiced serious concerns, with some elected officials even calling on him to withdraw for the party’s sake.
The New York Times also reported on Wednesday that Biden admitted he might not be able to salvage his campaign if he does not perform well in upcoming public events. In a private conversation on Tuesday, Biden reportedly took responsibility for the debate performance, expressing regret and not blaming his staff.
An anonymous source told the Times, “He knows if he has two more events like that, we’re in a different place,” referring to Biden's poor showing in last week’s debate against President Trump.
In response, White House spokesperson Andrew Bates publicly refuted the claim on X, stating: “That claim is absolutely false. If the New York Times had provided us with more than 7 minutes to comment we would have told them so.”
Reuters reported on Tuesday that at least 25 House Democrats are preparing to urge the 81-year-old to end his reelection campaign following his lackluster debate performance. Centrist House Democrats from competitive districts, who are most vulnerable in the upcoming elections, are reportedly contemplating writing a letter to Biden, alarmed by his unsteady appearance during the debate with the 78-year-old presumptive Republican nominee.
Reuters also reported that Kamala Harris is the leading alternative to replace Joe Biden if he chooses not to pursue his reelection campaign, according to seven senior sources within the Biden campaign, the White House, and the Democratic National Committee who are familiar with the ongoing discussions.
