‘Top Democrats’ would feel ‘relief’ if Biden steps down from 2024 election, NBC’s Kristen Welker says

Some “top Democrats” would be relieved if President Biden stepped off the ticket for the upcoming presidential election, “Meet the Press” moderator Kristen Welker said.

High-up Dems “say there would actually be relief if [Biden] were to step down,” Welker told MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell on Monday.

Biden, 81, sent his supporters into a panic last week with his fumbling, confused performance during the debate against Republican frontrunner Donald Trump.

In the immediate aftermath of the abysmal outing, a White House aide insisted that Biden would stay in the race – and that he was already preparing for the second debate in September.

If Biden moved aside, Welker explained, powerful Democrats would look to “reintroduce” Vice President Kamala Harris as she moved to the top of the ticket.

“One person said to me [that] everyone’s counting out Kamala Harris because right now her poll numbers are below President Biden’s, but if she were to be the one to carry this torch into November, there could be a method of reintroducing her to the country that could be effective with independents [and] with moderates,” Welker added.

Democrats have expressed “deep concerns” about Biden following the disastrous debate, but are cognizant of the president’s team closing ranks around him.

“Public, those speaking, the party is closing ranks behind him, giving him space as you say to make this decision,” she said.

“But I am told that the reality is they are also — while they’re going to fight for him if he stays in this race, they’re also going to be very focused on the House, on keeping the Senate, and quite frankly on thinking about strategy heading into 2028 because there is so much concern about his ability to win and beat Trump.”