Warner organizing discussion for Senate Democrats to assess Biden's path forward
Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) has approached Senate Democrats to organize a discussion on Joe Biden’s path forward as the party’s presidential nominee, according to a source familiar.
The chamber has been on a two-week recess, and Monday will be senators’ first time in town since the president’s shaky debate performance against former President Donald Trump. It’s unclear how many senators have expressed openness to the discussion; many Senate Democrats have continued to express support for the president, at least publicly.
Another source familiar said no firm plans have been set yet for the discussion.
Warner, chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, is hardly seen as a Hill rabble-rouser. But the effort shows Biden has yet to outrun concerns that stemmed from his uneven and halting appearance on the debate stage.While two House Democrats — Reps. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas) and Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.) — have called on Biden to step aside as the party's nominee, no Senate Democrats have publicly spoken out in similar fashion.
Many have, however, issued tough assessments of the president's performance and concerns over how he'd be received by voters after. The president has been doing damage control in the days since, including calls to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.), among others.
The Washington Post was first to report on Warner's efforts.
When Biden was asked in Wisconsin on Friday about Warner possibly wanting him to step aside, the president told reporters, "He's the only one."
Daniella Diaz contributed to this report.
CLARIFICATION: This report has been updated to reflect new reporting on the timing and nature of planning the discussion.