WASHINGTON — House Democrats on Tuesday failed to reach a consensus about whether President Joe Biden should continue his bid for a second term, as he showed no signs of stepping aside.The caucus met for a muchanticipated and high-stakes meeting behind closed doors amid Democratic lawmakers’ and donors’ concerns about Biden’s sluggish debate performance on June 27. Some have called for him to step aside and let younger Democratic figures pursue the party’s presidential nomination.Team Biden has gone on the offensive, with the 81-year-old president himself calling into a popular cable morning show on Monday, followed by a call with Democratic donors. Biden also sent a letter to congressional Democrats on Monday stating his strong intention to remain in the race and calling for party unity to defeat former President Donald Trump, the expected GOP nominee.Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, who had previously called for Biden to step aside, said as he left the Democratic huddle that “the debate cannot be unseen.”“The president has been running behind. We needed a surge. We got a setback. He is a great man who has made a great contribution to the country,” Doggett said, adding of a possible Trump second term: “But he shouldn’t leave a legacy that endangers us, that we surrender to a tyrant.”Rep. Lou Correa, D-Calif., told reporters that “voters chose Biden as their nominee, not us in a closed room.” He also downplayed what is seen as Biden’s biggest weakness, that he’d be the oldest president ever elected if he wins in November.“There’s concerns about everything. There’s concerns about Trump. When you talk about [Biden’s] age, I mean, 80 is the new 60,” Correa said.Rep. Maxine Waters, DCalif., said Biden “deserves our support” and vowed to “go to several states” on the president’s behalf. “Biden is going to win,” she added.Rep. Jasmine Crockett, DTexas, noted that Biden trailed other Democratic candidates during the 2020 party primary. “He can do this if we focus on the real threat: Project 2025, Donald Trump and MAGA,” she said.Crockett was referring to Project 2025, an extensive collection of ideas about a potential Trump second term crafted by some of Trump’s former aides and other conservatives.But Rep. Mike Quigley, DIll., left the session saying he still has concerns about Biden’s ability to run again and serve out another four-year term.“He’ll bring the ticket down this time,” Quigley said. “He just has to step down because ...
