As President Joe Biden's campaign struggles to calm anxiety over the president's dismal debate performance, Democrats in Congress are growing increasingly angry at those around them and increasingly pessimistic about his reelection chances and their chances of taking control of the House and Senate.
Talks about a change in strategy are already underway, with some Democratic lawmakers and deep-pocketed donors planning how Biden should stay in the race to ensure a congressional check on Donald Trump's second term.
“Here’s how I talk to my donors: You guys, the House is the last firewall. We have To flip the House,” a front-line House Democrat told Playbook last night. “99% of the people I talk to cannot get a credit card quickly enough.”
Such secret discussions could eventually degenerate into a clear campaign to get Democrats to block Trump’s presidency, much like Republicans did in 1996 when Bob Dole almost lost.
The Democrats aren’t there yet. The party’s top leaders are ready to continue to support Biden as the party’s best choice for November, as they did on the Sunday show circuit yesterday. Part of it is a collective action issue. No one wants to be the first, and potentially the last. And part of it is the belief that if enough people speak out, Biden will dig deeper.
But make no mistake: The desperation and frustration is real, and it’s seeping up from within the party. Front-line members—the swing-district Democrats who are the cornerstone of any majority—felt it keenly. Donors were on the phone over the weekend, and some were urging the release of a group letter calling for a new candidate, an idea some had discussed over the weekend.
“Party leaders need to go to the White House, knock on the door and say, ‘It’s about time.’” said an adviser to major Democratic donors. “Anybody trying to prolong the inevitable here is basically putting us on a giant fucking death march towards the end.”
That anger has been palpable among rank-and-file Democrats, many of whom accuse Biden and his family of hiding the reality of his condition. House Democrats lamented that they had been advocating for the president on the campaign trail despite receiving political advice, and on Thursday they learned just how bad things were.
“It’s just because of his selfishness and the support of his family,” the person said. “Virgin [Biden] Of all people – she sees him every day. She's the only one who can end this train wreck. … “She should have been a one-term president.”
Many senior Democrats have not given up hope that Biden will change his mind after new polls show massive internal bleeding. They are ready to argue that a graceful exit, rather than an insult to his legacy, is one of his greatest and most selfless acts to save democracy.
“There is tremendous affection and respect for the president, but no one thinks this is sustainable,” a senior Democratic aide told Playbook.
Meanwhile, Republicans are gearing up to paint Democrats as helpers of an incompetent president.
Over the weekend, the NRSC downplayed concerns about Biden's fitness for office, heralding a new strategy to get Democrats to listen to him. In Pennsylvania, Republican David McCormick ran a new ad in which incumbent Sen. Bob Casey expressed confidence in Biden's leadership following the president's interrupted debate performance.
The screen read, “Casey knew about Biden’s condition.”
A new memo obtained by Playbook says the NRCC has compiled similar documents and plans to “weaponize the silence of vulnerable House Democrats to use Biden's political collapse to expand the maps and expand the House Republican majority.”
“House Democrats, through their recklessness and party loyalty to the people of this country, have championed and enabled this crisis,” the memo continues.
DCCC spokesman Viet Shelton dismissed the Republican threat, arguing that “House races have always been about the strength of our candidates, coupled with the fact that Democrats deliver when in power, while extreme Republicans sow confusion.” He also pointed out that Democrats outnumber their Republican opponents.
What’s left unsaid: They also outperform Biden by a significant margin. But if recent history is any guide, that could easily change.
Do you like this content? Sign up for POLITICO's Playbook newsletter.