Biden’s top officials believe he must drop out as he becomes increasingly isolated | CNN Politics

🌈 Abstract

The article discusses the growing isolation of President Joe Biden within the White House and his campaign, with many senior officials now privately believing that he must abandon his campaign for a second term. It highlights the tight circle of advisers around Biden, the concerns raised by Democrats about his ability to win the 2024 election, and the uncertainty surrounding his future plans.

🙋 Q&A

[01] The Isolation of President Biden

1. What is the current state of President Biden's isolation within the White House and his campaign?

• Many senior-ranking White House and campaign officials now privately believe that Biden must abandon his campaign for a second term.
• Biden's inner circle of advisers with free access to the president has become even tighter, with only a few of his most loyal aides and members of the Biden family appearing dug in along with the president.
• This tight circle has alarmed many Democrats who are questioning whether Biden is receiving realistic data about the plight of his candidacy.

2. How have Biden's advisers responded to the challenges facing his candidacy?

• Some of Biden's most senior advisers, including Anita Dunn, Bob Bauer, and Jen O'Malley Dillon, have faced the ire of the president's family in the aftermath of the CNN presidential debate on June 27.
• Biden's decadeslong advisers Mike Donilon and Steve Ricchetti, along with members of the Biden family, appear to be forming a protective bubble around the president.
• Ricchetti is more clear-eyed about the challenges facing Biden, while Donilon and Tomasini play a role in deciding who the president sees and speaks to.

3. How have Biden and his campaign responded to the growing concerns about his candidacy?

• Biden has been described as being "receptive" to arguments to step away from his reelection bid, and he is in a "contemplative stage" as he isolates in Rehoboth Beach.
• Biden has privately acknowledged that there is a limited path forward given the unfavorable data, but it's unclear if he has made any decisions about his future.
• The White House and campaign aides continue to publicly insist that the president is not going anywhere, even as the mood in many corners of the White House and campaign has been one of deep despair.

[02] The Reaction of Democrats and the Potential Consequences

1. How have Democrats reacted to the challenges facing Biden's candidacy?

• Democratic lawmakers have slowly begun to publicly voice their concerns, with 20 House Democrats calling on Biden to drop out.
• However, White House and campaign aides have had little choice but to continue doing their day jobs, even as they privately feel differently.
• Some former administration officials have told CNN that there has been an uptick in resumes on their desks in recent weeks, as their former colleagues are starting to look for an exit plan in the private sector.

2. What are the potential consequences if Biden decides to step aside?

• Inside the White House, senior administration officials are bracing for Republicans to call for Biden to resign the presidency if he doesn't seek reelection.
• A cascading series of events would be set into motion that officials would need time to prepare for if Biden decides to step aside.

3. How have some Democratic voters reacted to the challenges facing Biden's candidacy?

• The Hales, retirees from Ankeny, Iowa, wrote a letter to the White House expressing their belief that Biden cannot win the 2024 race, "not because you are not the better man, but because the public – rightly or wrongly – now sees your age and perceived limitations as the main issue in the campaign."