Sources told ABC News on Wednesday that President Joe Biden has privately acknowledged that the next few days are critical to determining whether he can stay in the race for a second term.
He has privately told at least two people close to him in the last few days that he recognizes how difficult his political predicament is.
While he still views himself as the best candidate to defeat Donald Trump, he signaled to one ally that he is keeping an “open mind” about his path forward, sources familiar with conversations tell ABC News.
President Joe Biden, left, and first lady Jill Biden arrive on Marine One at Fort Lesley J. McNair, July 1, 2024, in Washington, D.C., on return from Camp David.
Jacquelyn Martin/AP
He has campaign events scheduled in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania in the coming days, an interview scheduled with ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos on Friday, and a news conference next week at the NATO summit. All of those events represent big opportunities for Biden to change public perceptions, according to those around him.
Publicly and privately, the president is making calls and arranging meetings to communicate his view that he remains the strongest candidate to take on Trump.
Over the last few days, he has spoken to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Chris Coons, Rep. Jim Clyburn, among others.
President Joe Biden walks off stage during the break of a presidential debate with Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump hosted by CNN, June 27, 2024, in Atlanta.
Gerald Herbert/AP
Biden was scheduled to have a private lunch with Vice President Kamala Harris on Wednesday and a meeting with Democratic governors later in the day, important marking points. Both were added to his schedule in the aftermath of the debate.
A person close to the president says he understands the stakes of this election and the importance of defeating Trump and has continued to insist he is ready for this moment.
“I would not be running again if I didn’t believe with all my heart and soul I can do this job,” Biden said in North Carolina after the debate.
President Joe Biden speaks during a briefing from federal officials on extreme weather at the D.C. Emergency Operations Center in Washington, D.C., July 2, 2024.
Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters, FILE
Biden has been consistent that he doesn’t want to be pressured into making the decision; he has remained “calm” during this moment, according to people who have interacted with him. Close members and associates are giving him space to see if that continues.
Separately, The New York Times has reported that Biden is weighing whether to continue in the race, a claim that the campaign is angrily denying.
“That claim is absolutely false. If the New York Times had provided us with more than 7 minutes to comment we would have told them so,” White House senior deputy press secretary Andrew Bates said.
Sources contacted by ABC News said he has not gone so far, to their knowledge, as to say he cannot salvage his campaign.
As President-elect Joe Biden prepares to take office in January, sources close to him have reported that he is considering various paths forward for his administration and views the next few days as crucial in shaping his agenda and priorities for the coming years.
Biden, who won the 2020 presidential election against incumbent President Donald Trump, has been busy assembling his transition team and preparing to take over the reins of power from the current administration. With a global pandemic still raging and an economy in turmoil, the incoming president faces a daunting set of challenges that will require swift and decisive action.
According to sources familiar with Biden’s thinking, the president-elect is weighing a number of key decisions in the days ahead, including his choices for key cabinet positions, his strategy for addressing the COVID-19 crisis, and his plans for jumpstarting the economy. Biden is also said to be considering how best to reach out to Republicans in Congress and build bipartisan support for his policy agenda.
One of the most pressing issues facing Biden is the ongoing pandemic, which has claimed the lives of over 250,000 Americans and devastated the economy. Sources say that Biden is considering a range of options for combating the virus, including implementing a national mask mandate, increasing testing and contact tracing efforts, and working with state and local officials to coordinate a unified response.
In addition to the pandemic, Biden is also focused on reviving the economy and creating jobs for millions of Americans who have been left unemployed or underemployed due to the pandemic. Sources report that Biden is considering a number of economic stimulus measures, including infrastructure spending, tax cuts for working families, and targeted relief for small businesses.
Overall, sources close to Biden say that he views the next few days as crucial in setting the tone for his administration and laying the groundwork for his policy agenda. With so much at stake, Biden is said to be focused on making smart and strategic decisions that will benefit the American people and help the country recover from the challenges of the past year. As he prepares to take office in January, all eyes will be on Biden as he charts a course forward for the nation.
