Senate Democrats are not scheduled to meet Monday to discuss President Biden’s reelection effort, according to a source familiar with Sen. Mark Warner’s (D-Va.) thinking.
Axios Warner previously reported that he was leading an effort to hold a meeting on Monday night to discuss Biden’s reelection bid, though a source with knowledge of Warner’s thinking said the meeting was not scheduled because details of the idea for the meeting were leaked, making a private conversation impossible.
Axios It first reported that Monday’s meeting would not take place.
The source declined to disclose details of the meeting but noted that Warner has not taken a position on whether Biden should drop out of the race following his shaky debate performance.
Two sources familiar with Warner’s activities told The Hill earlier this week that Warner was rallying support among Democrats to urge Biden not to run for reelection, citing the risk his candidacy could pose to relatively safe Democratic seats.
The Washington Post Warner’s efforts were first reported last week, but a spokesman for Warner’s office did not confirm the reports at the time.
“Like many in Washington and across the country, Senator Warner believes this is a critical time for the presidential campaign and has made that clear to the White House,” a spokesman told The Post in a statement.
Asked about the reports as he left a campaign event in Wisconsin last week, Biden said, “It’s just him.” Asked again about the reports during the interview, Biden said: ABC News On Friday, Biden called the senator a “good guy.”
“Mark and I think differently. I respect him,” Biden added later in the interview.
The president has come under fire in recent weeks following lackluster debate performances, and many Democrats and commentators have expressed concern about whether Biden can survive a second term. A minority of Democrats have also called on the president to step aside from the race.
At least four top House Democrats also said in a private call Sunday afternoon that Biden was dropping out of the race, according to people familiar with the matter.
Biden has faced calls to step down but remains adamant that he will continue to campaign, and many Democrats and other public officials have also publicly endorsed him in the days since the debate.
