Decision Time for Chuck Schumer?

If Senator Chuck Schumer, the New York Democrat and majority leader, is known for anything, it is his singular devotion to President Biden’s agenda, which he has helped steer through Congress, and loyalty to Mr. Biden himself, a former Senate colleague whom he admires and respects.

But Mr. Schumer is also passionate about his role as his party’s longtime chief Senate race strategist, a hands-on political geek who digs deep into the numbers of every Senate race and is determined to hold both his narrow majority and the White House in November.

Over the past two weeks, as Mr. Biden’s re-election campaign has been plunged into crisis following his disastrous debate performance, those two imperatives have come into direct conflict, posing a dilemma for Mr. Schumer as more and more Democrats — including many in his own ranks — question the president’s ability to continue as the Democratic nominee.

In public, the usually talkative Mr. Schumer has been determinedly tight-lipped, sticking to a mantra of “I’m with Joe,” even as some in his caucus call for Mr. Biden to step aside and others express real alarm that if he remains the nominee, he may lose and take the Senate majority and their chairmanships with him.

In private, Mr. Schumer is revealing more, if only very carefully. In conversations with donors, colleagues and others who have talked to him, the majority leader has cautiously opened the door to the idea of replacing Mr. Biden if it proves to be the most politically advantageous outcome. Those who spoke of their conversations with Mr. Schumer did so on the condition of anonymity.