Pressure is mounting on President Biden to reconsider his prospects in November, with former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi reportedly confronting him with data that showed he could not beat former President Donald Trump and might drag down House Democrats with him.
Mr. Biden, 81, pushed back by pointing to polling data showing he had a chance, according to CNN, which cited an unnamed source in describing the second meeting between the pair since Mr. Biden’s poor debate performance on June 27.
Mrs. Pelosi no longer leads the House Democratic caucus but remains an influential figure behind the scenes.
The reports did not say if Mrs. Pelosi explicitly urged Mr. Biden to drop out. The former speaker has said it is ultimately Mr. Biden’s decision whether to run.
“President Biden is the nominee of the party. He plans to win and looks forward to working with congressional Democrats to pass his 100 days agenda to help working families,” principal deputy White House press secretary Andrew Bates said in response to the report.
Mrs. Pelosi joined a mounting roster of prominent Democrats urging Mr. Biden to take stock of his path forward. Mr. Biden is isolating himself after receiving a COVID-19 diagnosis on Wednesday during travel in Las Vegas.
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ABC News reported Wednesday that Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer “forcefully urged” Mr. Biden to bow out during a face-to-face meeting Saturday.
A Schumer spokesperson responded to the report, “Unless ABC’s source is Senator Chuck Schumer or President Joe Biden, the reporting is idle speculation. Leader Schumer conveyed the views of his caucus directly to President Biden on Saturday.”
Campaign money might dry up, too.
Biden campaign co-chairman Jeffrey Katzenberg told Mr. Biden in Las Vegas that donors are beginning to withhold money because of the president’s dimming prospects, according to Deadline, although campaign staff told the outlet the meeting was “routine.”
Mr. Katzenberg and Mrs. Pelosi would be part of a trifecta of California figures who heaped pressure on Mr. Biden at midweek.
Rep. Adam B. Schiff, a California Democrat running for Senate, called on Mr. Biden to drop out on Wednesday. Actor George Clooney also said Mr. Biden should give up, adding to Mr. Biden’s woes in Hollywood.
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.
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