‘This Is Not Going to Just Blow Over’: Debate Panic Hardens Into an Awkward Choice for Democrats

The Democratic Party has divided into two camps: those resigned to Biden’s candidacy and those who think there’s still time to shake things up.

Joe Biden

The president’s reelection campaign and Democratic officials have been defending against a cry from within the party ranks that Joe Biden needs to step aside. Jacquelyn Martin/AP

Democrats in Washington are faced with two choices about their party’s ongoing panic this week: Ignore it or lean in.

Those close to Joe Biden believe it’s Democrats’ duty to minimize the problem — and their strategy thus far has been to blame the media for the frenzy. Asked when the panic might end, one frustrated source close to the campaign told NOTUS it wouldn’t. “Because it makes good D.C. cocktail fodder,” this person said.

Not every Democrat, however, is buying the message of “get over it and move on.”