White House adamant Biden ‘is not dropping out’

The White House was adamant Wednesday that President Biden isn’t dropping out of the 2024 race, despite some calls from Democrats for him to step aside.

“The president is not dropping out, that’s something the campaign has shared,” press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters amid a flurry of questions over his dismal debate performance and the fallout from it.

Biden and the White House have been making the rounds Wednesday to attempt to reassure Democratic leaders, aides and campaign staff that he’s up for another four years on the job.

“The president is cleared-eyed, and he is staying in the race,” Jean-Pierre said. “He’s staying in the race, that is what the president has promised to do … he wants to continue to work on the successes that he’s had, his record.”

Earlier Wednesday, Biden, along with Vice President Harris, joined a call with campaign staff and “unequivocally” told the team that he is running for reelection. White House chief of staff Jeff Zients spoke with administration staff to tell them to keep their heads high.

Biden also spoke with Democratic leadership, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (N.Y.), Jean-Pierre told reporters, and he is set to speak with more than 20 Democratic governors later in the day.

While political operatives and former Democratic aides have called for Biden to leave the ticket, one House Democrat so far, Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas), has also called for him to withdraw from the race.