Source: Obama, Biden to attend House Democratic retreat

President Obama and Vice President Biden will attend next week’s House Democratic retreat, according to a Democratic aide.

{mosads}The conference, on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, will be the second high-profile meeting between the president and House Democrats in a week. On Tuesday, Obama and Biden are hosting the lawmakers at the White House for an event billed as a roundtable discussion and reception.

It will also be the president’s second appearance at a Democratic retreat within that timeframe — he’s scheduled to appear with former President Clinton on Wednesday at the Senate Democrats’ retreat at Nationals Park in Washington.

The president’s appearance comes amid a spate of high-profile retirements among top House Democrats. On Tuesday, Rep. Rob Andrews (N.J.) was slated to announce his retirement, according to multiple media reports. Last week, Reps. George Miller (Calif.) and Henry Waxman (Calif.) announced their intention to leave office.

The departures would seem to indicate Democrats aren’t bullish about their chances to take back the House. But House Democrats have raised more money than House Republicans, largely on the back of at least seven fundraisers by the president and first lady for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee since 2013. The president has also appeared at a fundraiser for the House Victory Fund.

Democrats would need to pick up 17 seats in the House to return the Speaker’s gavel to Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).