In a recent report, it was revealed that Democratic lawmakers had been working tirelessly behind the scenes to persuade President Joe Biden to abandon his bid for reelection.
The report, which was based on interviews with six individuals involved in the private campaign against Biden, was published by The New York Times. It detailed the discussions that took place between Senator Chuck Schumer and others with Biden and his team in the days leading up to his decision to step down and endorse Vice President Kamala Harris.
According to Mediaite, one of the most significant revelations from the report was Schumer's candid conversation with Biden on July 13, 2024. Schumer, in no uncertain terms, expressed his doubts about Biden's chances against President-elect Donald Trump. He informed Biden that a secret ballot within the Democratic Senate caucus would likely yield only about five votes in his favor. Schumer was quoted as saying, My guess is you have about a 5 percent chance. None of your pollsters disagree with me.
Schumer also cautioned Biden about the potential historical implications of his decision. He warned that if Biden were to lose to Trump, and if the Democrats were to lose the Senate and fail to regain the House, Biden could be remembered as one of the darkest figures in American history. Schumer's concerns were not unfounded, as they followed days of his caucus members expressing concerns about Biden's age and electability.
Former President Barack Obama also played a role in the discussions. After the debate between Trump and Biden, Obama expressed his concerns about the Democrats' chances in the election. However, due to a strained relationship with Biden, Obama suggested that Schumer might be a better person to convince Biden to step down. This tension between Obama and Biden reportedly originated from Obama's decision to support Hillary Clinton over Biden in the 2016 election.
The situation within the Democratic Senate caucus became so tense that Schumer felt compelled to request a meeting with Biden's team. This came after a July 8 letter to members calling for an end to the debate about Biden's path forward, which caused some lawmakers to question whether Biden was even involved in its drafting. Schumer reportedly told Biden advisor Steve Ricchetti, If we dont have this meeting, I cannot hold my members back anymore.
Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island also voiced his concerns during the Senate meeting. He stated that he would withhold his support for Biden until a public report from two neurologists confirmed Biden's fitness to serve, and Biden held a press conference where he would answer questions from anyone.
Despite the overwhelming concern within the caucus, Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania remained a staunch supporter of Biden. However, his criticism of his fellow lawmakers for questioning Biden's chances did not go unnoticed. Schumer reportedly reprimanded Fetterman for his comments, reminding him that while he was free to express his opinions, it was not fair or effective to accuse his colleagues of lacking courage.
The revelations in the report shed light on the internal struggles within the Democratic party leading up to Biden's decision to step down from the race. It underscores the importance of unity within a party, as well as the need for leaders to be in touch with the concerns and sentiments of their members. The report also highlights the role of personal relationships and past decisions in shaping the political landscape.
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