‘The Dam Breaks’: Politico Sounds the Alarm On Biden Losing Democratic Support In Congress

Politico Senior Washington Correspondent Rachael Bade sounded the alarm on Tuesday morning for President Joe Biden, asking, “Is the dam starting to break on Capitol Hill?”

Bade added, “Rep. Mike Quigley says Biden ‘has to be honest with himself” abt his impact on down-ballot races. ‘It will have implications for decades to come.’ Tim Ryan says it’s time for Kamala Harris to step in. Sen. Peter Welch spanks the Biden Campaign for gaslighting Dems raising concerns.”

A few hours later, Politico’s Playbook PM arrived in readers’ inboxes and announced, “The dam breaks on Biden.”

The Playbook led off by reporting, “For days now, elected Democrats have privately lamented President JOE BIDEN’s reelection chances and following his disastrous Thursday night debate. For the most part, what they haven’t done, though, is go on the record. Until today.”

Rep. Lloyd Doggett’s (D-TX) call for Biden to step aside led the list of officials questioning Biden’s fitness to stay on the ticket. “I represent the heart of a congressional district once represented by LYNDON JOHNSON. Under very different circumstances, he made the painful decision to withdraw. President Biden should do the same,” read Doggett’s statement from Tuesday.

The Playbook then noted:

— Rep. JIM CLYBURN (D-S.C.) told MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell that he “will support” VP KAMALA HARRIS if President Biden “were to step aside. (h/t NBC’s Gary Grumbach)

— Former House Speaker NANCY PELOSI (D-Calif.) on MSNBC: “I think it’s a legitimate question to say, is this an episode or is this a condition? When people ask that question, it’s completely legitimate — of both candidates.”

Pelosi added that she’s heard “mixed” opinions on whether Biden is fully up for the campaign.

“Some are like, ‘Well, how can we subject the [nomination] process to what might be possible? Others are, ‘Joe is our guy. We love him. We trust him. He has vision, knowledge, judgment, integrity,'” she said. “I trust his judgment.”

Sen. Welch’s (D-VT) statement ripping the Biden campaign was also included as was Rep. Quigley (D-IL) telling CNN, “We have to be honest with ourselves that it wasn’t just a horrible night … I just want him to appreciate at this time just how much this impacts not just his race but all the other races coming in November.”

Read the full Playbook PM here.

Have a tip we should know? tips@mediaite.com