Morale plummets as staff and officials question President Biden's viability, with top Democrats reportedly pushing for a new nominee or souring on his chances.
Morale is spiraling downward among President Biden's re-election staff and Democratic officials, according to a CNN report, as the ongoing debate over whether he should withdraw from the race or stay put casts a shadow over the campaign.
The outlet interviewed dozens of Democratic officials, White House and Biden campaign aides, and other Biden allies, who painted a bleak picture of the situation surrounding Biden's re-election bid. Some have characterized the feeling as a "doom loop."
Biden Re-Election Fight Sparks "Doom Loop" Among Democratic Loyalists
The intra-party conflict over Biden's future has taken a toll on those supporting him. "There's a growing sense that it's game over," one Biden aide told CNN.
The outlet noted that Biden's post-debate performance has only exacerbated their concerns, with even top Democratic leaders like Rep. Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Chuck Schumer reportedly expressing doubts about his chances. Former President Obama has also been mentioned as a possible advocate for a new nominee.
Biden Re-Election Fight Sparks "Doom Loop" Among Democratic Loyalists
Despite these pressures, Biden and his inner circle remain steadfast in their determination to pursue re-election. In a response to Trump's RNC speech, Biden declared, "I am more determined than ever to defeat Donald Trump and his Project 2025 agenda in November."
However, some of Biden's staff anonymously told CNN that they see little hope for his candidacy. "Even among aides in the White House and Wilmington who for long after the debate were ready to stick with him, the weight has started to feel too much," the outlet reported.
Biden Re-Election Fight Sparks "Doom Loop" Among Democratic Loyalists
Some said they plan to quit, while others have already "quiet quit" and are just "going through the motions" until Biden is eventually replaced. "I don't think you can find a person who is off the record saying he should stay in," one person told CNN.
The outlet also reported that faith in Biden's inner circle has been "obliterated," and that other top aides have taken to "emailing and texting to check in about how far down into despair they are day by day" rather than focus on campaign operations.
Despite the pessimism, some of Biden's top advisors insist the campaign is running well. Biden campaign spokesman Kevin Munoz told CNN, "Here in HQ, we're working really hard because on winning campaigns, you work really hard. There's an immense sense of pride across our office, because we know how important and critical that work we are doing here is for the fate of our democracy."
Democratic lawmakers, however, have expressed concerns about the direction of the campaign. Rep. Ritchie Torres told Axios, "A change at the top of the ticket has taken on an aura of inevitability."
Even Biden loyalists in Congress admitted that momentum is against him. Rep. Haley Stevens said, "I don't believe President Biden should step aside, but it appears that opinion is being overruled."
When asked about CNN's report, a Biden campaign spokesperson pointed Fox News Digital to a quote from Biden campaign chair Jen O'Malley Dillon on Friday. "The president's in this race," she said on MSNBC. "You've heard him say that time and time again, and I think we saw on display last night exactly why, because Donald Trump is not going to offer anything new to the American people."
Despite Dillon's optimism, the morale crisis among Biden's staff and loyalists suggests that the campaign faces an uphill battle in the coming months. The outcome of the ongoing intra-party debate will likely have a significant impact on the prospects of Biden's re-election bid and the future of the Democratic Party.
