As the 20th Democrat in Congress, Representative Adam Schiff has publicly called for 81-year-old Joe Biden to withdraw from the presidential race.
Now, according to a CNN report, Nancy Pelosi, a long-time supporter of Biden, has confronted him about his chances in a phone call.
Pelosi's Concerns
Pelosi reportedly pointed to clear poll numbers, suggesting that Biden's insistence on running could harm the Democrats' chances of regaining control of the House of Representatives. Four insiders briefed on the call shared this information with the CNN.
However, none of them indicated that Pelosi directly asked Biden to withdraw his candidacy.
Biden countered Pelosi's concerns by claiming he had seen polls showing he could win. That being said, sources indicated he was defensive about the polls.
At one point, Pelosi asked Biden's longtime adviser, Mike Donilon, to join the call to discuss the data. The exact date of the conversation is unknown but is believed to have taken place last week.
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As a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Pelosi's voice holds significant sway among Democrats.
After a recent TV debate, Pelosi, who had always supported Biden, said it was legitimate to question Biden's suitability.
In an interview with MSNBC, she went further, saying it was up to the president to decide whether to stay in the race, and added, "We all encourage him to make that decision because time is running out."
White House's Position
The White House did not comment on the specifics of the phone call.
Spokesman Andrew Bates reiterated, "President Biden is the party's nominee. He wants to win and looks forward to working with Democrats in Congress to pass his 100-day agenda and make policies for families in America."
According to CNN, a spokesperson for Pelosi stated she had been in California since Friday and had not spoken to the president since then.
Biden's Stance
So far, Biden has rejected calls from his party colleagues to withdraw and has made it clear that he has no intention of giving up the fight for the White House. However, it remains to be seen how long he can withstand internal criticism.
