Joe Biden
Another top name is pushing Biden – the rebellion within the Democrats continues
Nelly Kronstrand
Updated 19.48 | Published 17.54
The Biden family is in talks about how to resolve the crisis - at the same time as campaign employees deny all rumors of defection.
Now another top Democrat is calling on Joe Biden to hand over the baton.
"It is in the best interests of the nation that he does so," writes Senator Martin Heinrich.
Quick version
It continues to storm around US President Joe Biden.
While the president isolates himself in his home in Delaware after contracting covid-19 - several media outlets report that support within his own party is cracking behind the scenes.
Now Biden's family is discussing what the 81-year-old should do if he eventually withdraws from the presidential race, according to sources to NBC News.
Family discussion: Time and place
Wife Jill Biden, son Hunter Biden and sister Valerie Owens along with close staff are among those discussing the president's future, according to the channel.
Among other things, a suitable time and place for a dropout has been discussed.
According to the sources, they also talked about how Biden himself, the family and the political situation in the country are affected by the presidential campaign.
Just hours after reports that the Bidens are in talks, yet another senator went public and pleaded with Biden to step down.
"Joe Biden is one of the most skilled presidents of modern times," wrote Democrat Martin Heinrich in a statement.
Heinrich: In the interest of the nation
Martin Heinrich highlighted that the most important thing right now is that the Democrats win over Donald Trump this fall - not that Biden is re-elected as president.
"The decision to step aside is entirely President Biden's. I believe it is in the best interest of the nation that he does so."
Martin Heinrich is the third senator to call for Biden's resignation. In the past Peter Welch, Democratic Senator from Vermont, has expressed the same as well as Senator Adam Schiff.
"I strongly doubt whether the president can defeat Donald Trump in November," Adam Schiff has previously said in a statement.
During Friday, four more Democrats appealed for Biden to drop out - in an open letter addressed directly to the president.
"We believe the most responsible and patriotic thing you can do is step aside as our candidate, while you continue to lead our party from the White House."
The letter is signed by congressmen Jared Huffman of California, Marc Veasey of Texas, Chuy Garcia of Illinois, and Marc Pocan of Wisconsin.
Sources: Biden is sad
On Friday evening, Swedish time, Joe Biden broke his silence after contracting covid-19.
In his statement, he announced that the presidential campaign will continue until next week.
"Donald Trump's dark vision for the future is not for us Americans. Together, as a party and as a country, we must and can defeat him in the election," he writes.
Joe Biden has not commented on the top Democrats' demands and pleas for defection. But according to sources to NBC News, the president feels both hurt and betrayed.
Meanwhile, top names in the Democratic Party, such as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi, have publicly endorsed Biden.
But behind closed doors, no clear calls should be made that the party's congress members should stand behind the president, according to the channel.
White House spokesman Andrew Bates denies reports that the Biden family is in talks about the president's future.
"They don't, period. The individuals making these claims do not speak for his family or his team – and in time they will be proven wrong," he writes to NBC News.
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