Senate Democrats are returning to Washington on Monday to voice concerns about Biden’s future as the Democratic presidential nominee and are set to hold crucial talks over the party’s future course in the coming days.
While some Senate Democrats have not gone as far as at least six House Democrats to call for Biden to step down following his dismal performance in the debate, questions are swirling among anxious lawmakers about whether Biden will hurt them in the November election, and they want answers now.
“I have a lot of concerns,” said Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.), “and I’m not the only one who has concerns.”
“I’m hearing a lot of concerns from local Minnesotans. So I think right now our party is having a robust discussion about what happens next, what we should do, and I think that’s a healthy thing,” said Smith, who is vice chairman of the Senate Democratic campaign arm. “There’s no easy path here. There’s no easy path forward.”
As senators returned to Capitol Hill, Biden began a more concerted effort to assuage the anxieties of senior Democratic leaders, making clear in interviews with supporters, donors and reporters that he’s not going anywhere and bristling at suggestions that he should go anywhere.
But it’s unclear whether he can calm the nerves of Senate Democrats, several of whom on Monday refused to fully endorse him and called for a series of talks to answer whether he should top the November election.
Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., had planned to meet with lawmakers on Monday to discuss the possibility of replacing Biden, but canceled those plans as the Senate Democratic Conference plans to hold a lengthy discussion on the issue over lunch on Tuesday.
“Now is the time to discuss the strongest path forward for our party,” the Virginia senator said in a statement, echoed by many of his colleagues.
“They’re concerned,” said Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) when asked after the debate what he’s heard from his local constituents. “They want to know that this doesn’t reflect a serious situation, that it was just a bad night. … If the American people come to the conclusion that it was a bad night, we’ll be OK, the president’s OK. If they come to the conclusion that this was caused by something else, then that’s going to be difficult.”
Bennet, the former Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee chairman, also said the party has weaker candidates who are “destroying themselves in battleground states and battleground districts,” a major concern for many members of the party who cannot afford to make mistakes as they fight to maintain their majorities.
Sen. Jon Tester (D-Montana), one of two Republican-leaning state Democrats up for re-election this year, expressed concern in a statement on Monday, saying Biden “must prove to me and the American people that he can serve another four years.”
Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), another member of the party at risk, added that Ohio voters “have legitimate questions about whether the president should continue to campaign.”
But for now, party leaders are backing the president. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) repeatedly told reporters as he entered the Capitol on Monday, “I stand with Joe.”
Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, the No. 2 Senate Democrat, added that confidence in Biden was “high” but acknowledged the party was divided at the moment.
“I understand the reality he and we’re facing,” said Durbin, who is at home recovering from hip replacement surgery. “I’ve been sitting in front of the TV for 12, 14 days now, the same topics, the same issues every day… That’s what it’s like after the debate.”
“We can’t ignore reality,” he said, pointing to Tuesday’s meeting. “We have to get this problem solved.”
Other key Biden aides noted the importance of this week but said the president was seeking to allay concerns and answer questions from voters about his mental acuity and ability to serve another four years in the White House.
Sen. Chris Coons (D-Delaware), one of Biden’s key supporters, noted that Biden is hosting a NATO summit in downtown Washington this week and will hold a solo news conference there — a rare move for a president, but Democrats are pushing Biden to host more impromptu events to show he’s up to the task.
“He has done that and he will continue to do that,” Coons said. “To any colleagues who have any concerns, I would say: Talk to him. He’s happy to talk to them. Look at the last five interviews, events and speeches he’s given.”
“And for the love of God, give him the benefit of the doubt,” he continued. “It’s Joe Biden.”
Alexander Bolton contributed.
