Sen. Richard Blumenthal reiterated his support for President Biden Wednesday but appeared to express concerns about his chances of holding off former President Donald Trump in the November election.
“I am deeply concerned about Joe Biden winning this November because it is an existential threat if Donald Trump wins,” Blumenthal (D-Conn.) told reporters. “I think we need to reach a conclusion as soon as possible. Joe Biden, as the Democratic nominee, has my support.”
A day earlier, the 78-year-old Blumenthal, a key member of the Senate Judiciary and Armed Services committees, had nudged Biden to step up his campaign game.
“Biden is the Democratic nominee for president of the United States, he has my support. He needs to make his case aggressively and vigorously to the American people,” he told reporters, according to Axios.
Democrats have been gripped by uncertainty about Biden, 81, in the wake of last month’s debate performance, which amplified angst over his mental acuity.
An entourage of Biden’s key advisers, including Mike Donilon, Steve Ricchetti and campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon, are expected to meet with Senate Democrats at midday Thursday.
Thus far, no Democratic senator has publicly called on Biden to step aside, but several — including Jon Tester of Montana and Michael Bennet of Colorado — have publicly fretted about him losing or struggling to handle the duties of the presidency.
“Biden’s bad debate performance raised serious questions about whether he’s up [to] the job for the next four years. As I have said, he needs to prove to the American people, and me, that he can do it,” Tester said in a statement.
“Donald Trump is on track, I think, to win this election. And maybe win it by a landslide and take with it the Senate and the House,” Bennet told CNN on Tuesday.
“I think we could lose the whole thing and it’s staggering to me.”
Other Senate Democrats have given Biden lukewarm support and urged him to fight harder and win back public confidence.
“We need to see a much more forceful and energetic candidate on the campaign trail in the very near future in order for him to convince voters he is up to the job,” Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) said Tuesday.
“At this critical time for our country, President Biden must seriously consider the best way to preserve his incredible legacy and secure it for the future.”
Meanwhile, in the lower chamber, eight House Democrats have come forward and publicly implored Biden to pass the torch.
Biden has refused to do so, telling congressional Democrats Monday in a letter that he is “firmly committed” to serving as the Democratic presidential standard bearer and called for the fervor “to end.”
Then, in a call into MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” on Monday, Biden dared his detractors to challenge him for the party nod at the Democratic National Convention and bristled at his naysayers, whom he described as the “elites” of the party.