Schumer Signals Openness to Ditching Biden: Report Deepens Democratic Divide

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has privately expressed doubts about President Biden's re-election viability, according to a report, as the divide within the Democratic Party over Biden's candidacy deepens.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has reportedly confided in his colleagues that he has reservations about President Biden's ability to win re-election, citing his age and perceived mental decline. This bombshell report from The Hill has further fueled the ongoing divide within the Democratic Party over Biden's future as the party's nominee in the 2024 presidential election.

Sources within the Senate Democratic caucus have revealed that Schumer agrees with growing concerns that the 81-year-old Biden may not have the stamina and acuity to carry the party to victory against former President Donald Trump. However, Schumer reportedly does not believe Biden's campaign is beyond salvage.

Schumer Signals Openness to Ditching Biden: Report Deepens Democratic Divide

Despite his private misgivings, Schumer has publicly maintained his support for Biden, fearing that public criticism would undermine the president and harm Democratic candidates down the ballot in the fall election. A spokesperson for Schumer has declined to comment on the report.

The Axios report, which first broke the news of Schumer's skepticism, also indicated that the majority leader has been receptive to suggestions from Democratic donors that the party explore alternatives to Biden as its 2024 nominee.

Schumer Signals Openness to Ditching Biden: Report Deepens Democratic Divide

In the wake of the report, Schumer reaffirmed his commitment to Biden in a statement to Fox News, emphasizing his determination to defeat Trump. However, he has also remained silent amid growing concerns expressed by other Democratic senators.

At a recent meeting involving Democratic senators, senior Biden advisers, and campaign officials, antsy lawmakers raised questions and voiced their anxieties about Biden's electability. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) stated that he needed to see more data and analysis that demonstrated a clear path to victory for Biden.

Schumer Signals Openness to Ditching Biden: Report Deepens Democratic Divide

Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.), who became the first Democratic senator to publicly call on Biden to withdraw from the race, attended the meeting and expressed his concerns about Biden's candidacy.

Schumer's counterpart in the House, Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), has also remained opaque on his personal views of Biden's fitness for office. However, he has met with Biden and relayed the "full breadth of insight" from the Democratic caucus to the president.

Schumer Signals Openness to Ditching Biden: Report Deepens Democratic Divide

Despite the turmoil within the party, the vast majority of Democrats have indicated their support for Biden should he accept the nomination. Biden faced no serious challengers in the Democratic primary and remains the preferred choice of Democratic voters, according to polls.

As the 2024 election cycle heats up, the Democratic Party faces a significant decision regarding its path forward. Schumer's reported doubts about Biden's re-election viability have exacerbated the party's internal divisions, and the president's future remains uncertain.