“Whether or not I have concerns is besides the point. He is going to be our nominee, and we all have to support him,” said Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.).
A bloc of battleground House Democrats who’ve coalesced to oust Joe Biden as the party’s Democratic presidential nominee are seeing their rebellion “crumbling” after the Biden camp “outflanked” their effort, according to reports.
Axios reported Tuesday that many Democrats have fallen in line to back Biden after a contentious meeting at the DNC headquarters, much to the dismay of skeptical Democrats in imperiled swing state districts.
SCOOP: Just before House Democrats’ “come-to-Jesus” meeting today on President Biden’s path forward, a smaller group of swing-district Democrats held what sources described as a despondent gathering with “actual tears.” https://t.co/Nsl0qkbBON
— Axios (@axios) July 9, 2024
The pocket of Democrats who were “pretty much unanimous” in wanting Biden to step down had huddled for a separate meeting earlier that lawmakers present described as having “actual tears.”
From Axios:
One shell-shocked lawmaker who was present at the meeting would offer only one word to characterize it: “Intense.”
Another described the mood as “pretty much unanimous” that Biden has “got to step down,” adding, “There were actual tears from people, and not for Biden.”
Democrats’ full caucus meeting was far less unanimous, with lawmakers both defending Biden and airing concerns about his ability to take on former President Trump, attendees told Axios.
One House Democrat who was in both meetings said: “Most of our caucus is still with him … meaning he’ll stay in. Which sucks for our country.”
Going in and out of the meeting, several House Democrats who have previously raised concerns about Biden said they are now with him: “Whether or not I have concerns is besides the point. He is going to be our nominee, and we all have to support him,” said Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.).
But other reports claim there still is no final consensus about what to do about Biden.
“The House Democratic Caucus meeting about President Joe Biden’s political standing is starting to empty out. One House Democrat supportive of Biden told me it ‘felt like a funeral,’” Punchbowl News founder Jake Sherman reported.
“There is definitely no consensus on Biden. Lots of talk about how difficult the situation is for Dems. Rep. Jahana Hayes (D-Conn.) said that putting Harris atop the ticket would be setting her up for failure. Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) said he saw a poll recently that had Biden losing in his district. Biden won his district with 62% of the vote last time.”
INSIDE THE ROOM — The House Democratic Caucus meeting about President Joe Biden’s political standing is starting to empty out.
One House Democrat supportive of Biden told me it “felt like a funeral.”
There is definitely no consensus on Biden. Lots of talk about how difficult…
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) July 9, 2024
But ahead of Tuesday’s meeting, one House Democrat wanted Biden to step down claimed other Democrats were “folding all over the place” and “becoming resigned to Biden holding all the cards here, and us having no real say in the matter.”
“As someone who wanted the reckoning and is really disappointed that it’s over, trust me: it’s over,” the lawmaker said.
Rep. Mike Quigley (D-Ill.) one of the nine House Democrats who had publicly called for Biden to step down over the weekend, said ahead of the meeting that his colleagues must “recognize” that Biden “can’t win” against Trump.
Dem Rep. Mike Quigley says Biden “just has to step down because he can’t win” pic.twitter.com/euewhMfi80
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) July 9, 2024
Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) likewise said as he left the meeting that Democrats “are not even in the same book” let alone on the same page when it comes to agreement on Biden’s political future.
Dems exiting their meeting on Biden saying not only are they not on the same page, ‘we are not even in the same book’ pic.twitter.com/n2QEeJinzE
— Jon Michael Raasch (@JMRaasch) July 9, 2024
But House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries reiterated his support for Biden when leaving the meeting, saying his position “has not changed.”
Democrats perpetrated a FRAUD on the American people by denying — and lying about — Crooked Joe Biden’s obvious cognitive impairment.
Now, they have no choice but to go down with the ship. pic.twitter.com/L9ZFSn5tbh
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) July 9, 2024
Socialist lawmakers like Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) also doubled down on their support of Biden on Monday.
“The matter is closed,” AOC told reporters. “He had reiterated that this morning. He has reiterated that to the public. Joe Biden is our nominee. He is not leaving this race. He is in this race, and I support him.”
All in all, Democrats still appeared divided on what to do about Biden ahead of the meeting.
Outside of DNC Headquarters House Dems are sharing their thoughts on if Pres. Biden should stay in the race. pic.twitter.com/kgCuTiHgpk
— Reshad Hudson (@ReshadHudson) July 9, 2024
But Axios reported that the Biden camp managed to “galvanize lawmakers” to support him after moving quickly Monday with a letter defying their calls to step down.
“When there’s this kind of show of force, it’s hard to imagine people are going to speak up against him,” said one disaffected House Democrat, with another admitting the Biden camp “outflanked us.”
Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas), the first House Democrat who publicly urged Biden to drop out, also conceded, “He clearly did a preemptive effort to try to discourage any questions…with his letter.”
Meanwhile, GOP leadership excoriated the Democrats and media Tuesday for perpetuating the “coverup” of Biden’s cognitive decline for years and called for him to be removed via the 25th Amendment after demonstrating that he’s “unfit” for office during his disastrous debate performance.