Biden buys time but Democratic senator warns he could lose in ‘landslide’

CNN —

President Joe Biden on Tuesday clung onto the Democratic nomination on a high-stakes day in Washington, but the risks of his refusal to step aside were laid bare when one of his party’s senators warned on CNN that Donald Trump could win in a “landslide.”

Biden’s stubbornness leaves Democrats increasingly fearful that the president could put at risk not just the White House but any chance of retaking the House or holding the Senate — already an uphill battle.

The White House did succeed in heading off rebellions in emotional meetings of Senate and House Democrats on Tuesday but even some members who back Biden expressed reservations about his tactics and capacity to run a winning campaign. And on Wednesday, uncertainty about the president’s prospects grew with comments from former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and as actor and Democratic donor George Clooney called on Biden to voluntarily step aside.

Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet was among three Democrats who privately voiced fears that Biden couldn’t win in November, sources told CNN’s Dana Bash, and then became the first of his colleagues to go public.

“It’s true that I said that,” Bennet told CNN’s Kaitlan Collins. “Donald Trump is on track, I think, to win this election and maybe win it by a landslide and take with him the Senate and the House.” He added: “So for me, this isn’t a question about polling. It’s not a question about politics. It’s a moral question about the future of our country.”

“The White House, in the time since that disastrous debate, I think, has done nothing to really demonstrate that they have a plan to win this election.”

Bennet’s remarks do not represent the public position of all Democratic senators but there is no doubt the