In a letter to Democrats, President Joe Biden made clear his intentions to remain in the 2024 presidential election race.
Democratic members of Congress remain split on whether Biden should continue running after his poor showing in the first presidential debate, with former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) among the latest to publicly speak out.
What Happened: Biden is getting strong support from progressive members of Congress after announcing he was staying in the race to defeat former President Donald Trump.
One member of Congress not fully voicing support for Biden staying in the race is former House Speaker Pelosi.
In an appearance on "Morning Joe" Wednesday, Pelosi said she would support whatever Biden decides. The Congresswoman suggested that discussions among Democratic members about Biden's political future, both privately and publicly, resumed after the NATO summit, as reported by the New York Times.
"It's up to the president to decide if he's going to run. We're all encouraging him to make that decision. Because time is running short," Pelosi said.
Pelosi said it's up to Biden to make the decision.
"Whatever he decides, we go with."
The former Speaker of the House, one of the most senior members of Congress, has urged Biden to reconsider his presidential run, following his letter to Democratic leaders.
Pelosi has been a longtime ally of the president and a Biden campaign official told the Times that Pelosi said she has "always been committed" to Biden on Tuesday. The same day that Pelosi declined to say if Biden was the best candidate for the Democratic Party in the 2024 presidential election.
Why It's Important: Several Democratic members of Congress have privately discussed concerns about Biden remaining in the race, while others have publicly called for Biden to step down.
"I think we could lose the whole thing," Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) said in an interview with CNN. The comment was in reference to losing the presidency, along with the House and Senate in Congress.
"The White House has done nothing since the debate to demonstrate they have a plan to win this election."
News anchor George Stephanopoulos, who recently interviewed Biden, said he doesn't think the president can "serve another four years."
Biden has had several video calls with Democratic governors and mayors to rally support for his campaign.
Benzinga recently shared that left-wing members of Congress known as the "squad," which includes Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), are showing public support for Biden despite previously clashing with him over several policies.
A Wall Street Journal report said it is Progressive and Black congress members who are showing the biggest public support for Biden in the recent week.
Squad member Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), who has clashed with Biden over the handling of the Israel-Hamas war, has publicly shown support.
"He's been the best president of my lifetime, so we have his back," Omar said.
Strong public supporters of Biden in Congress highlight his success in winning primary votes and contrast it with Trump’s record and his stance on policies like abortion.
With the Republican National Convention starting next week and Trump selecting a vice president, attention could shift from the Democratic Party’s deliberations about Biden’s potential replacement to the Republican Party. With the 2024 election less than four months away, the urgency for the Democratic Party to make decisions about its future is increasing.
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