Joe Biden may soon be convinced that he does best to step aside and let someone else take on the fight against Donald Trump in the presidential election this fall, American media report, citing sources within the Democrats.
Another senator is also distancing himself from Biden.
Washington Post relies on three sources within the party who describe what the former Speaker of the House, Biden's party colleague Nancy Pelosi, has said to congressmen after conversations she had with the President.
The newspaper also reports that former President Barack Obama has expressed concern, according to sources in his circle, about how the election will go for the Democrats with Biden as a candidate.
End of Donations
According to Financial Times, people who have donated large sums of money to the Democrats play a crucial role as pressure on Biden increases. Some of them are said to have made it clear, through heavyweight party representatives who have contact with Biden and his staff, that it's the end of donations if Biden doesn't step down. And it may be a matter of days before the President himself realizes that it's not going any further, say several sources to FT.
There is enormous pressure now, says George Krupp, real estate investor and major donor to the party, to the newspaper, talking about the pressure behind the scenes from political representatives, party workers, and donors.
But the White House has so far commented on the whole thing by saying that Joe Biden is not thinking of stepping down. He himself has so far said that he is best suited to take on Trump and can be re-elected.
Isolated
On Wednesday, Biden tested positive for Covid-19 and had to interrupt a campaign trip. He has, according to the White House, a cold and other mild symptoms. He is pausing his campaign and has isolated himself in his home in Delaware due to the virus infection.
Pelosi is described as a messenger and mediator between the party and the President. So far, twenty, a tenth of the Democrats' 213 members in the House of Representatives, have publicly said that Biden should step down. Two Democratic senators have also done so – Joe Tester, senator for Montana, is number two, reports AP.
In Congress, concern is growing that Biden will reduce the members' chances of retaining their seats.
Built On
More and more reports are emerging in American media, based on anonymous sources, about crisis meetings and gloomy internal tones in the party regarding Biden's prospects. Heavyweight party representatives, such as Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and Minority Leader in the House of Representatives Hakeem Jeffries, are said to be thinking along similar lines and have expressed doubts about the election in conversations with the President.
But Biden also has defenders who criticize the media for largely relying on anonymous sources.
