Prior to a closed-door meeting among House Democrats about whether President Joe Biden should back out of the race, a smaller group of lawmakers in swing districts held their own meeting.
Sources described the meeting to Axios as “a despondent gathering” that left some attendees in tears.
One lawmaker, whom the outlet described as “shell-shocked,” said the meeting was “intense.”
Another person in attendance said, “There were actual tears from people, and not for Biden.”
The source also said the mood was “pretty much unanimous [that the president has] got to step down.”
A separate, two-hour meeting of the full Democratic caucus Tuesday morning resulted in support for Biden, though some party members voiced their disapproval.
“The debate was lopsided in favor of keeping the president on the ticket – a dynamic suggesting that Biden has, at least for now, prevented the slow seep of individual detractors from becoming a flood,” The Hill reports.
“I feel we’ve hit a turning point,” said Rep. Steven Lynch (D-Mass.) after the meeting, per the outlet. “As the President said, I think yesterday, it’s been 10, 11 days or so since the debate and it’s time to move on. And I think that’s where many more members are today than they were last week.”
"Whether or not I have concerns is besides the point," said Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.). “He is going to be our nominee, and we all have to support him.”
On Monday, several Democratic lawmakers called for Biden to step down, including Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.), who suggested replacing him with the vice president.
“I think it’s become clear that he’s not the best person to carry the Democratic message,” Smith told Jake Tapper during an appearance on CNN’s The Lead. “And here’s the thing. We have an incredibly strong message and record to run on. Personally, I think Kamala Harris would be a much better, stronger candidate and because she is, constitutionally, is second. That’s the way it’s supposed to work.”
The congressman, who’s served in the House for 27 years, further elaborated on his stance in a Monday press release imploring Biden to end his candidacy.
“This must happen as soon as possible to give the new ticket the maximum amount of time to make its case to the American people,” Smith said, adding that the president is no longer capable of presenting a clear or articulate case to voters.
Veteran Democratic strategist James Carville claimed Biden’s exit from the race was inevitable in a Monday op-ed for The New York Times.
“Mark my words: Joe Biden is going to be out of the 2024 presidential race. Whether he is ready to admit it or not,” he wrote. “Mr. Biden says he’s staying in the race, but it’s only a matter of time before Democratic pressure and public and private polling lead him to exit the race. The jig is up, and the sooner Mr. Biden and Democratic leaders accept this, the better. We need to move forward.”
In a letter to House Democrats on Monday, the president refused to bow out of the race.
“I want you to know that despite all the speculation in the press and elsewhere, I am firmly committed to staying in this race, to running this race to the end, and to beating Donald Trump,” Biden told House Democrats. “I can respond to all this by saying clearly and unequivocally: I wouldn’t be running again if I did not absolutely believe I was the best person to beat Donald Trump in 2024.”
