President Joe Biden is being “more receptive to calls of concerns” following a spate of campaign setbacks, a senior Democratic source told CNN.
Though the president has not made such remarks publicly, and has vowed previously he will stay in the presidential race until November, CNN reports that in private, Biden’s attitude appears to have softened.
“The private conversations with the hill are continuing, [and] he is being receptive, not as defiant as he is being publicly,” the source said, per CNN.
Biden is reportedly also asking questions about the viability of Kamala Harris taking his place at the top of the Democratic ticket. “It is unlcear where he might land [on the issue] but he seems to be listening,” the source said.
It comes as Biden, 81, tested positive for Covid-19 ahead of a scheduled appearance in Nevada on Wednesday.
The reported “receptive” remarks about his future are a distinct departure from previous defiant statements made by the president in recent weeks. The president has reiterated that he is the only man capable of beating Donald Trump come November.
“Let me say this as clearly as I possibly can as simply and straightforward as I can: I am running … no one’s pushing me out,” Biden said on a call with staffers from his reelection campaign earlier this month. “I’m not leaving. I’m in this race to the end and we’re going to win.”
The concerns over his ability stemmed from a one-on-one debate with Trump on June 27, widely viewed as a disaster for the president.
In the aftermath, Biden blamed his poor performance on a busy travel schedule, saying it wasn’t “very smart” to travel globally beforehand and claiming he “almost fell asleep” on stage. Despite this, he swore he would push on.
