President Joe Biden called prominent congressional Democrats to rally support in the days following his poor debate performance as the party's concerns grow over whether he can continue as the presumptive presidential nominee.
Biden spoke with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) on Wednesday morning, a spokesperson for Schumer confirmed to the Washington Examiner. The president also spoke to House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE) on Tuesday, sources familiar told the outlet.
Biden also had a "very long conversation" with Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-SC), a Biden-Harris campaign co-chairman, Wednesday afternoon .
"The substance of that call will remain private," Clyburn spokeswoman Brianna Frias said.
The president's calls to top Democrats come days after his top surrogates and greatest allies have said in interviews they have not heard from Biden since his debate against former President Donald Trump.
"I would have said make those phone calls he made today last week," Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI) told CNN on Wednesday after the outreach. "He's doing it now."
Coons, another Biden campaign co-chairman, is one of several allies who has advised the president to partake in town halls , media interviews, and press conferences to ease voters' concerns and negate any damage from his display onstage that included meandering answers, dazed looks, and confusing responses.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) said Tuesday she had not heard from Biden since the debate, but she also encouraged the president to do more “no-holds-barred” interviews with “serious journalists.”
“Not one, maybe two. I think that is essential for them to do that,” Pelosi said on MSNBC.
House Democrats are coming out in droves to discuss Biden's debate performance, with some, such as Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), calling on the president to withdraw from the 2024 race and others vocalizing their support if Vice President Kamala Harris were to take the reins.
Safe-seat House Democrats are reportedly circulating a draft letter for colleagues to sign that calls on Biden to withdraw from the race. Up to 25 House Democrats are also preparing to come out and ask Biden to drop out, but whether that is connected to the safe-seat letter remains to be seen.
Some House lawmakers, such as Reps. Jared Golden (D-ME) and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA), have gone so far as to say they believe Trump will win the election.
For Biden’s part, he insists he can still win the election as the White House seeks to turn the page on the debate. White House chief of staff Jeff Zients told staff members to block out the "noise" surrounding Biden's campaign during an all-hands call.
“Let me say this as clearly as I possibly can, as simply and straightforward as I can: I am running,” Biden told staff on a campaign call. “No one is pushing me out.”
"I'm not leaving,” he said. “I'm in this race to the end, and we're going to win."
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The president has agreed to hold a press conference next week to face multiple reporters, and he will sit down with ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos for an exclusive interview Friday. He also plans to meet with and hold a call with Democratic governors Wednesday.
“The president has been out there. He’s been listening to supporters,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. “I think it matters that he’s going to do an interview on Friday. I think it matters that he’s going to go to Wisconsin and do that, right, engage with everyday people.”
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