Democrats' private fears about Biden are slowly going public

Despite President Biden's efforts to quell dissent and keep his party unified behind his candidacy, congressional Democrats continue to raise concerns that he will lose in November — and take down ballot Democrats with him.

Lawmakers have said both publicly and privately that the party is badly fractured on the issue, giving heightened power to drips of information from individual members who choose to voice their opinions. Public concern began to pick up after CNN reported that Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., privately told fellow senators at a Tuesday closed-door meeting that he worried that Trump would win in a landslide and take the House and Senate with him.

"It's true that I said that," Bennet repeated in an interview on CNN. "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."

Bennet previously chaired the Senate Democrats' campaign committee.

It is a high stakes battle within the party as most members agree there is little time to change course if Biden chooses to step aside.

Oregon Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley, asked about Sen. Bennet's comments, told NPR, "I do share those concerns and so do many of my colleagues."

Asked if Biden should withdraw, Merkley added, "I think President Biden should look at all of the information and carry on detailed conversations with key leaders, including Leader Schumer and Leader Jeffries, and should do what's best for the nation." He acknowledged that leaders and rank and file members are "extremely worried."

Biden campaign officials are set to meet directly with senators on Thursday, according to a Senate leadership source who was granted anonymity to speak about private plans.

Democrats will hold