NBC’s Kristen Welker Says ‘Top Democrats’ Telling Her They’d Feel ‘Relief’ If Biden Steps Down

Meet the Press moderator Kristen Welker reported on Monday that “top Democrats” are telling her they’d feel “relief” if President Joe Biden stepped down following his performance last week at CNN’s debate .

“I have spoken to some top Democrats who say there would actually be relief if [Biden] were to step down,” Welker told MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell .

Welker said one of these “top Democrats” told her Biden stepping down amid concerns about his age would provide an opportunity to “reintroduce” Vice President Kamala Harris , if she were the one to move to the top of the ticket.

“One person said to me [that] everyone’s counting out Kamala Harris because right now her poll numbers are below President Biden’s, but if she were to be the one to carry this torch into November, there could be a method of reintroducing her to the country that could be effective with independents [and] with moderates,” she said.

Welker earlier said Democrats have expressed “deep concerns” about the president following his performance against former President Donald Trump at last week’s debate . She added, however, that these “deep concerns” are being kept private as Biden’s team puts up a unified wall against talk of him being replaced before November.

“Public, those speaking, the party is closing ranks behind him, giving him space as you say to make this decision,” she said. “But I am told that the reality is they are also — while they’re going to fight for him if he stays in this race, they’re also going to be very focused on the House, on keeping the Senate, and quite frankly on thinking about strategy heading into 2028 because there is so much concern about his ability to win and beat Trump.”

Watch above via MSNBC .