Democratic insiders are increasingly worried about President Joe Biden's polling. Some fear his loss could end American democracy.
A Democratic operative told Politico, "You don’t want to be that guy who is on the record saying we’re doomed, or the campaign’s bad, or Biden’s making mistakes. Nobody wants to be that guy." But he added that Biden's bad numbers and high stakes have led to a "freakout."
"This isn’t, ‘Oh my God, Mitt Romney might become president.’ It’s ‘Oh my God, the democracy might end’," he said.
Strategists and elected Democrats who were optimistic about Biden are now concerned. The gap between their public and private comments is growing.
Former President Donald Trump leads Biden in most swing states. Trump could face a verdict soon in his hush money trial. Meanwhile, a trial against Hunter Biden is starting in Delaware.
Last month, Trump’s campaign outraised Biden’s for the first time. Despite having more cash, Biden was outpaced by $25 million in April, thanks to a big fundraiser in Palm Beach.
An adviser to Democratic donors told Politico they have a list of reasons why Biden might lose. Issues include immigration, inflation, Biden's age, VP Kamala Harris’s approval, and third-party candidates like Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
The adviser said, "I can pour a drink," while donors read the list. "The list of why we ‘could’ win is so small I don’t even need to keep it on my phone," he added.
Biden’s campaign aides highlight some positive polls. They note Trump’s court struggles have limited his campaigning. They also point out Trump’s weak campaign infrastructure in key states.
A Biden campaign spokesperson said, "The work we do every day...is the work that will again secure us the White House." They focus on Biden’s fight for the middle class and Trump’s negative campaign.
Several Democrats mentioned abortion as a key voter issue. Democratic strategist Pete Giangreco said if the race is about which term was better, Biden’s or Trump’s, "we lose that every day of the week."
Michigan state Representative Laurie Pohutsky added, "I worry that...young voters don’t feel that sense of urgency and might not remember how disastrous 2017 was right after the Trump administration took over."