Former President Barack Obama has recently conveyed to his allies that President Biden’s chances of securing victory in the upcoming election have significantly diminished. This insight comes from multiple individuals briefed on Obama’s perspective. Despite only having spoken to Biden once since the recent debate, Obama has made it clear in his conversations that the ultimate decision regarding Biden’s candidacy rests with the president himself. Obama’s primary concern is to safeguard Biden’s legacy and has resisted the notion that he alone can influence Biden’s decision.

Behind the scenes, Obama has been actively engaged in discussions about the future of Biden’s campaign. He has taken calls from anxious Democrats, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, sharing his views on the president’s challenges. Those familiar with these private conversations, who requested anonymity, revealed that Obama sees his role as a counselor to Biden, feeling a sense of protectiveness over his former vice president. Obama has expressed that Biden has been a great president and he wants to preserve Biden’s accomplishments, which could be at risk if Republicans gain control of the White House and Congress.

Obama has expressed concerns about shifting poll numbers and the increasing difficulty of Biden’s path to victory. He has noted that former President Donald Trump’s electoral prospects appear to be improving and that major donors are withdrawing their support for Biden. Publicly, Biden and his campaign team have remained resolute, asserting that the president will not exit the race. After testing positive for COVID-19, Biden cut short his campaign activities in Las Vegas and returned to Delaware to quarantine.

Quentin Fulks, Biden’s principal deputy campaign manager, reiterated the campaign’s commitment on Thursday, stating, “He is not wavering on anything. The president has made his decision.”

The Democratic Party is experiencing growing anxiety about Biden’s viability as a candidate and the potential repercussions for other Democratic candidates. Top Democrats, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer, have directly communicated their concerns to Biden. Pelosi has been particularly active in attempting to address these issues behind the scenes.

Obama, who remains a respected figure within the party, has tried to maintain a lower profile while providing support and counsel to Biden. Former advisers to Obama, such as David Axelrod and members of the Crooked Media podcast team, have been vocal in questioning Biden’s chances of victory. National polls have shown Biden trailing in key battleground states, and strategists are wary of a potential boost for Trump following his nominating convention and a recent assassination attempt.

Obama’s concerns about Biden’s candidacy have deepened in the weeks following the debate. Some of Biden’s aides have expressed frustration with Obama’s involvement, believing he has not done enough to unite the party behind Biden. Despite Obama’s public support for Biden post-debate, some believe he could have prevented influential figures like George Clooney from publicly calling on Biden to withdraw from the race. Efforts by Jeffrey Katzenberg, a top Biden campaign official, to stop Clooney from publishing an op-ed urging Biden to step down were unsuccessful.

However, following the report, TJ Ducklo, Biden’s Campaign leader, responded by saying that “Biden is the party’s nominee and is running for re-election.”

Joe Biden is his party’s nominee. He’s the President of the United States. He’s running for reelection. Baseless conjecture from anonymous sources isn’t a scoop. Tonight a convicted felon will talk about how he’ll make people’s lives worse if he gains power. Let’s focus. https://t.co/RZBb9k6g9d

— TJ Ducklo (@TDucklo) July 18, 2024