Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., acknowledged Sunday that there are “very honest, serious and rigorous conversations happening” in the Democratic Party after the president. Joe Biden‘s disappointing performance during Thursday’s presidential debate.
Raskin’s comments are a departure from what most top Democrats have said publicly in defense of the president, as they acknowledge that Biden had a “bad” debate but argue that does not disqualify him from running for president.
“I’ve made it very clear that it was a disappointing performance on Thursday, during the debate, as President Biden and his campaign have acknowledged. It was certainly a setback. But I believe, of course, that a setback is nothing more than a setup for a comeback,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told MSNBC’s “The Weekend” on Sunday.
But privately, NBC News reported on Saturday, leading Democrats are concerned about Biden’s campaign.
“We’re having a serious conversation about what we need to do,” Raskin said in an interview with MSNBC’s Ali Velshi on Sunday morning, adding, “One thing I can tell you is that regardless of what President Biden decides, our party is united, and our party needs him to be at the center of our deliberations in our campaign, and so whether he’s the nominee or someone else is the nominee.”
Several lawmakers told NBC News on Friday that it was time to replace Biden as the nominee, including one who said it was “time to talk about an open convention and a new Democratic nominee,” but no one attached his name to his comments.
During an interview with MSNBC’s “The Weekend” on Saturday, Biden senior adviser Anita Dunn said Biden has not spoken to aides about dropping out of the race.
“The president will stay out there. And he’s going to make the case for why Donald Trump is a threat to this country, and why there is a better path ahead for Americans,” Dunn said.
Biden is at Camp David this weekend with his family, along with loved ones after a tumultuous week and a dismal debate performance.
Although the trip was planned ahead of the debate, Biden was expected to discuss the future of his campaign with his family.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
