Following Thursday’s disastrous debate and widespread speculations about President Joe Biden being replaced as the Democratic nominee, his weekend plans indicate a change of course may be on the horizon. Biden plans to meet with family members at Camp David on Sunday to discuss the future of his campaign, five sources familiar with the matter told NBC News.
Biden is expected to discuss the future of his re-election campaign with family on Sunday, following the debate that left many fellow Democrats worried about his ability to beat Trump
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— Tom Namako (@TomNamako) June 30, 2024
Speaking under the condition of anonymity, sources tell NBC that there is an understanding among top Democrats that Biden needs space to figure out his next steps. They say only he and his wife can decide whether to keep going or end the campaign early, and they believe pushing him won’t help.
One insider familiar with the ongoing discussions said:
The decision-makers are two people — it’s the president and his wife Anyone who doesn’t understand how deeply personal and familial this decision will be isn’t knowledgeable about the situation.
Another source suggested that Jill Biden was the only advisor Joe would listen to, saying:
The only person who has ultimate influence with him is the first lady. If she decides there should be a change of course, there will be a change of course.
The Biden-Harris campaign has refuted these reports, posting on social media that Joe and Jill Biden’s trip to Camp David was planned and announced before Thursday’s debate and doubling down on Biden being the eventual Democrat nominee, writing:
Yeah, no. This was announced a week ago. Joe Biden is and will be the Democratic nominee.
Yeah, no. This was announced a week ago. Joe Biden is and will be the Democratic nominee. https://t.co/wVDDKPDzVZ pic.twitter.com/5hYnZPzjJU
— Biden-Harris HQ (@BidenHQ) June 30, 2024
One source told NBC that the Camp David gathering was not a formal family meeting, saying:
Any discussion about the campaign is expected to be informal or an afterthought. No one is sitting down for a formal or determinative discussion.
In the aftermath of the debate the Biden campaign has continued to reassure voters, and top Democrat party brass that he will be the nominee, and pushed that message in a a conference call Saturday with DNC members. Even so, sources described three “buckets” of Democrats, those ready to move on from Biden, those standing vigilantly by his side, and those watching and waiting to see what happens in the polls over the next days and weeks.
During Saturday’s conference call, one state Democratic Party chair said:
Democrats need to take a big breath and look at that polling, look at swing voters. Until I see something differently, he’s the person that’s put this coalition together, he’s the person that has the record, he’s the person that beat Donald Trump. Until I see something differently, he’s still the best person to beat Donald Trump.
While speculations swirl, many top Democrats are saving face as the behind-the-scenes sausage-making is in the works. Meanwhile, American voters are well aware that the D’s are in full panic mode and have collectively admitted Biden’s cognitive decline publicly for the first time.
According to someone familiar with his state of mind following the debate, Biden felt humiliated, lacking in confidence, and acutely aware that the enduring images from the debate—his distant gaze and open-mouthed expressions—would persist long after his presidency. These personal feelings, along with Jill Biden’s influence may go further in putting ol’ Biden out to pasture than the usual machinations of political power wielding, making the Camp David dissucssions extremely pertinent.
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