Why Senate Democrats have STILL not turned on Biden despite demands he show he is 'strong enough' to serve until he is 86
- Some Senate Democrats call for discussions while others forcefully back Biden
- READ MORE: Senior Democrat makes u-turn on whether Biden should exit race
President Biden is facing a firestorm of criticism and pressure to withdraw from the presidential race from some Democrats, but up on Capitol Hill, Senate Democrats have largely held the line backing the president as he vows to stay in the 2024 race.
'As I've said before, I'm for Joe,' declared Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to waiting reporters as he returned from a recess this week. He reiterated that position following lunch with fellow Democratic Senators on Tuesday.
Even as some in his caucus have raised questions or concerns over the president's debate performance, no member in the Democrats slim Senate majority have openly called for President Biden to step down so far.
What some Democratic senators have done however is pressure the president to prove he's up for the task of a vigorous campaign and second term.
President Biden speaking at a campaign event in Philadelphia on Sunday. Some Senate Democrats have expressed concerns but not have turned on the president and called for him to step aside so far
'More than a week since the debate, and after talking to my constituents, I believe President Biden must do more to demonstrate he can campaign strong enough to beat Donald Trump,' said Senate President Pro Tempore Patty Murray (D-WI) in a statement.
'There is such a case to be prosecuted against Donald Trump -- President Biden has to lead the charge in making that case,' she continued.
She said they need to see a 'much more forceful and energetic candidate on the campaign trail in the very near future in order for him to convince voters he is up for the job.'
Her sentiments were echoed by fellow Democratic Senator Jon Tester who is facing a tough reelection bid in Montana.
'President Biden has got to prove to the American people -- including me -- that he's up for the job for another four years,' Tester told a local reporter.
'Meanwhile, I'll continue to do what I've always done: Stand up to President Biden when he's wrong and protect our Montana way of life,' he added.
Senator Jon Tester (D-Mont.) said Biden has to 'prove to the American people' that he's 'up for the job for another four years.'
Senator Joe Manchin has rarely been one to withhold his views, but when it comes to the state of the presidential race, he said it is too soon to cast judgement in the race.
The outgoing West Virginia senator, who recently changed his party registration to Independent but caucuses with Democrats, said he wants to see what direction the president will go and said it will take time. He argued Biden could still win.
'Oh I think it's winnable, sure,' Manchin told reporters. 'I've always said, Donald Trump is a threat to democracy as we know it, so I think people are taking that very seriously. You can't call the race now. This is ridiculous.'
Senator Joe Manchin (I-W. Va.) said the 2024 race is still 'winnable' for Biden and that Trump is a 'threat to democracy as we know it'
Senator Michael Bennet of Colorado said it's 'really important for us as Democrats to have an open discussion' so they have a path to winning the White House and both chambers of Congress, but he stopped short of calling for the president to step aside.
Senator Tina Smith had a similar take where she expressed that she is 'concerned' over Biden's ability to beat Trump and claimed she is hearing that from people in her state of Minnesota. But she said she wanted to Democrats to discuss this week.
Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin also said she was hearing concerns about Biden's ability to win the election. Baldwin, who is up for reelection in the battleground state, said she thinks everyone is looking carefully at his performance this week.
Senator Mark Warner was reportedly trying to put together a meeting to discuss their support for Biden, but it was scrapped as senators returned to Washington.
Instead, Warner called for conversations about the strongest path forward and claimed the most important thing is to defeat Trump. He also said Biden needed to be 'more aggressively making his case to the American people.'
Retiring Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow said there were concerns but refused to say whether anyone in lunch with Senate Democrats on Tuesday had called for the president to step aside. She likened it to a 'private family discussion.'
Stabenow also praised Biden as the 'best president' Michigan has ever had.
Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon called Biden's debate 'one bad night' and encouraged the president to get out and speak with voters.
'Right now the president has said that he's in, that he's running. Period, full stop,' Wyden said.
Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) expressed some concerns but called for discussions among Democrats this week
Senator Mark Warner (D-Va.) called for conversations on the strongest path moving forward. He says Trump is a threat to democracy
Others offered a much more forceful endorsement.
Coming out of lunch with other Senate Democrats on Tuesday, Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania said nothing has changed.
'Nothing’s changed. Joe Biden is our guy, he’s my guy and he’s the only guy ever to kick Trump’s a**,' Fetterman said.
Senator Catherine Cortez Masto from the battleground state of Nevada said in a statement that Biden won the Democratic nomination 'in a landslide because he fights for working people in this country.'
'He's always had Nevadans' backs, whether it's on the picket lines, protecting our personal freedoms, or lowering costs -- now it's time for us to have his,' she said.
'We need to remember President Biden for 30 years has been someone who does stutter, and who occasionally misspeaks in small ways and not judge him by too high a standard. He's been the most consequential president in my lifetime,' said Senator Chris Coons.
Biden's one time rival Senator Bernie Sanders also reaffirmed his support for Biden.
'Right now President Biden is the Democratic nominee. Until I hear differently, I will support him,' Sanders said in an interview with CNN.
'I do believe that if he makes it clear that he is prepared to stand up for working people, take on powerful special interests, yeah he will win the election.'
Sanders would not speculate about his support for a replacement if Biden were no longer the nominee: 'Right now Biden is the Democratic nominee. Period.'
Other Democratic senators have not address the president's fitness for office publicly to date or the mounting pressure by some party members for him to drop out.
California Senator Laphonza Butler would not answer reporters' questions on Tuesday.
Illinois Senator Dick Durbin stated whether Biden remains on the ticket remains to be seen.
As questions swirl for Senate Democrats, Republicans eye Biden as a way to go after vulnerable senators up for reelection this year.
Multiple incumbent Democrats are running in states that Trump won in 2020 and face tough challenges from GOP opponents. The 2024 map appears more friendly for Republicans taking the Senate majority.
Republican candidates and party operatives in the past few weeks have seized on the president's debate performance to raise questions about Biden's fitness and attack Democratic senators suggesting they're covering for the president and White House.
