Democrat President Joe Biden is planning to drop out of the presidential race as soon as “this weekend,” according to multiple reports.
Biden is facing even more pressure to quit the 2024 presidential race as a growing number of Democrats now believe he cannot win.
Two key Democrat allies, Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), have now also privately told Biden his time is up.
It comes as the weakened president grapples with a Covid diagnosis.
President Donald Trump, meanwhile, is going from strength to strength since surviving an assassination attempt.
Pelosi and Schumer have reportedly each held separate talks with the president in recent days.
They are warning Biden that he cannot beat Trump and risks dragging down the entire party in November.
While publicly Biden has vowed he will stay on the ticket, a source told CNN he is now “more receptive to calls of concern” about his prospects.
Reporting by Axios and NOTUS also suggests Biden could drop out as soon as this weekend.
These reports have also been confirmed by journalist Mark Halperin.
Halperin says “multiple sources” have told him Biden “plans to announce withdrawal from nomination as early as this weekend.”
According to the reports, Sunday is the “most likely” day that Biden will make the announcement.
Writer Jon Meacham is reportedly helping Biden prepare his remarks.
However, the reports suggest that Biden is not planning to step down from his presidency and will only end his re-election campaign.
According to Halperin’s sources, Vice President Kalama Harris will not be automatically selected to replace Biden and will be competing against three other rivals during an open Democrat convention.
However, Biden will not endorse Harris to replace him.
Harris is reportedly vetting at least four possible running mates.
Among those being vetted by Harris include Democrat Governors Andy Beshear of Kentucky and Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania.
BREAKING: Per @MarkHalperin, Biden will announce his withdrawal as soon as Sunday, followed by an OPEN Democrat convention between Kamala and three or more rivals. Biden will NOT endorse his VP and will NOT resign the presidency.
This could be the wildest month in American…
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) July 18, 2024
On Wednesday, Biden was forced to pull out of a campaign stop in Las Vegas after he tested positive for the coronavirus.
The White House insists he is only experiencing “mild symptoms.”
However, Biden was seen feebly walking up the steps of Air Force One in Nevada.
All eyes have been on Harris ever since Biden’s poor performance during the first presidential debate in Atlanta.
Logistically, Harris would be the most straightforward choice for Democrats to replace Biden.
Being VP, she is already next in line for the presidency and Harris would be able to take advantage of Biden’s fundraising war chest should she replace him.
While other top Democrats have been suggested to replace Biden, such as Hillary Clinton or Michelle Obama, it does seem unlikely at this point while Harris is still in the running.
It would mean that Harris would need to find a running mate, however.
Aside from Beshear and Shaprio, other names potentially in the running would be Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper.
Nevertheless, all eyes will be on next month’s Democratic National Convention.