Top Democrat Jeffries Meets With Biden as Defections Continue

Democratic House leader Hakeem Jeffries (D., N.Y.) said he met with President Biden to convey the worries of Democrats about their standard-bearer as calls for the president to leave the race continued.

In a letter to colleagues, Jeffries said he “directly expressed the full breadth of insight, heartfelt perspectives and conclusions about the path forward that the Caucus has shared in our recent time together.” He didn’t give any indications of what perspectives he provided in their private meeting Thursday or whether he encouraged Biden to stay or leave. 

The release of the letter came the morning after Biden held a news conference Thursday as he tried to slow a stream of Democratic defections, delivering a defiant performance but also making some flubs. The 81-year-old president vowed to stay on the campaign trail, beat Republican Donald Trump and finish the job he started while acknowledging there were questions facing his campaign.