Warner, taking a leadership role in these efforts, believes it may be time for Biden to suspend his reelection campaign, according to a source familiar with his activities.
In recent days, the Biden administration and campaign have struggled to manage the fallout from the president’s lackluster debate performance, offering conflicting explanations while emphasizing Biden’s accomplishments over the past three years rather than his shaky 90-minute encounter with former President Donald Trump.
However, the debate has intensified concerns about the president’s health and raised doubts about his fitness for another four-year term. With mounting pressure within the party, some Democrats have urged Biden to evaluate whether he remains the strongest candidate to challenge Trump in November, while others have openly called for him to step aside as the presumptive nominee.
Warner’s meeting with fellow senators, initially reported by The Washington Post, is scheduled for Monday, according to a source familiar with the plans.
Responding to reports of Warner’s initiative on Friday, Biden acknowledged Warner positively, stating, “Mark is a good man,” but noted they hold differing perspectives. Biden mentioned that Democratic congressional leaders have encouraged him to continue his candidacy.
Warner declined to comment when approached by CNN. His spokesperson, Rachel Cohen, in a statement to the Post earlier on Friday, neither confirmed nor denied Warner’s efforts, emphasizing Warner's belief in the critical nature of the current phase of the president’s campaign.
Meanwhile, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has called for a virtual meeting on Sunday with Democratic committee ranking members to discuss Biden, as relayed by a Democratic lawmaker to CNN. This meeting was first reported by NBC News.
Privately, Biden has conveyed to an ally earlier this week that the upcoming days will be pivotal in determining the future of his reelection bid. Despite the challenges, Biden remained resolute on Friday, telling reporters before departing for a campaign rally in Wisconsin that he is firmly committed to remaining in the 2024 race.