Senate Democrats reluctant to talk about path forward for Biden after closed-door meeting

Senate Democrats, more than a dozen of whom have expressed varying degrees of concern about President Biden’s ability to win and serve a second term, were extremely tight-lipped Tuesday afternoon after their closed-door caucus discussion.

“Constructive discussion” is all Sen. Mark Warner, Virginia Democrat, would say in response to a spattering of reporter questions.

The Washington Post reported last week that Mr. Warner had planned to gather concerned Senate Democrats together for a discussion on potentially urging Mr. Biden to drop out of the race following his disastrous debate performance, but he abandoned that specific course of action after the news leaked. Instead, he issued a statement Monday urging “conversations about the strongest path forward.”

“As these conversations continue, I believe it is incumbent upon the president to more aggressively make his case to the American people, and to hear directly from a broader group of voices about how to best prevent Trump’s lawlessness from returning to the White House,” Mr. Warner said.

Sen. Jon Tester, a Democrat facing a tough reelection race in red Montana, left Tuesday’s meeting saying the statement he put out on Monday “still stands.”

“President Biden has got to prove to the American people — including me — that he’s up to the job for another four years,” he said in the Monday statement.

Asked Tuesday if he wants to hear from the president directly to assuage his concerns, Mr. Tester said, “That’s up to the president.”

Senate Democrats shoehorned the discussion about whether Mr. Biden should continue to lead the party into their normal weekly Tuesday caucus lunch meeting, which ran longer than usual.

“I thought the meeting was very thoughtful and very good,” Sen. Debbie Stabenow, retiring Michigan Democrat and a member of the party’s leadership, said. “And we spent most of our time talking about Donald Trump and why a convicted felon has not been called upon to step down by the press.”

Ms. Stabenow declined to say whether any Democratic senators in the meeting called for Mr. Biden to step aside as the nominee.

“No, I’m not going to. I’m not going to,” she said. “This was a private family discussion. I’m sorry guys.”

Told that her nonanswer seemed to confirm that some senators did want Mr. Biden to get out of the race, she interjected, “No, no, actually,” then fumbled over her words and said, “I’m not going to say anything else.”

While most Senate Democrats declined to talk to reporters or gave brief, vague answers about the caucus discussion, a few sought to tamp down the notion that there were any significant divisions.

“Joe Biden is our guy. He’s my guy, and he’s the only guy ever to kick Trump’s ass,” Sen. John Fetterman, Pennsylvania Democrat, told reporters. “He’s the guy. I don’t know why everyone in your business seems to be so offended by that.”

Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer, New York Democrat, reiterated his support for Mr. Biden but declined to comment further when prodded by reporters during his weekly press conference after the meeting.

“As I’ve said before — I’m with Joe,” he said, repeatedly, no matter the question posed.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Connecticut Democrat, said he stands with Mr. Bide but realizes that the president has his work cut out for him.

“The Democrat candidate is Joe Biden,” Mr. Blumenthal said. “I think he needs to continue effectively and aggressively making his case to the American people and earning their support, as well as a number of my colleagues.”

Sen. Ron Wyden, Oregon Democrat, is also backing Mr. Biden, but he thinks the president can do more to connect with and reassure voters who have concerns about him.

“For quite some time, I have told people in the administration I don’t think there’s any substitute out there for unscripted, townhall kind of meetings,” Mr. Wyden said. “I’m going on 1,100. I’m practically there now. And I’ve sure stumbled plenty in these kinds of kinds of things, and it’s no fun. But that’s how people walk away say, ‘real person.’”