As concerns grow about President Biden's fitness for office, Democrat senators are expected to discuss his status at the top of the ticket during their weekly caucus meeting.
President Biden's recent public appearances have raised concerns among Democrats, leading to a planned discussion within the party's senators during their weekly caucus meeting on Tuesday.
According to a source familiar with the matter, Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) had been working to gather a group of Democrat senators to meet on Monday specifically to discuss a path forward amid the fallout from Biden's debate against former President Trump. However, the meeting was ultimately canceled due to leaks and concerns about the optics.
Biden's Frail Appearance Sparks Democrat Caucus Discussion
Instead, the caucus will address Biden's candidacy and concerns during their scheduled policy lunch on Tuesday. Warner, the Senate Intelligence Committee chair, had previously expressed concerns about Biden's performance in the debate, saying that he needed to "aggressively make his case to the American people."
While some House Democrats have publicly voiced concerns about Biden as the nominee, senators have largely remained quiet. However, on Monday afternoon, two vulnerable Democrat Senators, Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), made comments on Biden's fitness to continue his campaign.
Biden's Frail Appearance Sparks Democrat Caucus Discussion
Tester claimed that Biden now needed to prove to him and the country that he could serve four more years. Brown, while not going as far, acknowledged hearing concerns from Ohioans on the ground about Biden's health and mental fitness.
The revelation that Warner had attempted to facilitate a meeting solely to address Biden's status as the nominee became a significant development in the upper chamber late last week. When asked about Warner's effort in an interview with ABC News' George Stephanopoulos on Friday, Biden dismissed it, saying that he and Warner had "a different perspective."
Biden's Frail Appearance Sparks Democrat Caucus Discussion
On Monday, Biden penned a letter to congressional Democrats after his interview failed to quell concerns brewing in the party. He reaffirmed his commitment to staying in the race, warning that airing such concerns "only helps Trump and hurts us."
The status of Biden's candidacy and ongoing concerns about his fitness are expected to dominate the discussion during the Democrat caucus meeting on Tuesday. The outcomes of these discussions will have significant implications for the party's prospects in the 2024 presidential election.
Biden's Frail Appearance Sparks Democrat Caucus Discussion
