  Former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi reportedly conveyed to President Joe Biden in a private conversation that polling data suggests he may not be able to defeat Donald Trump in the upcoming 2024 election. According to a CNN report, Pelosi also expressed concerns that Biden's bid for a second term could harm the Democratic Party's chances of maintaining control in the House of Representatives after the November elections.
Despite Pelosi's warnings, President Biden responded by citing polling data that indicates he has a viable path to victory. Sources cited in the report described Biden as defensive when confronted with Pelosi's concerns about his electoral prospects.
During their discussion, Pelosi reportedly invited Mike Donilon, Biden's longtime adviser, to join the conversation to delve deeper into the polling data. This marks the second known conversation between Pelosi and Biden since the president's lackluster debate performance on June 27, which has prompted internal discussions within the Democratic Party about Biden's ability to run for a second term, given his age of 81.
The debate performance raised questions about Biden's fitness for a second term, prompting some within the Democratic Party to suggest Vice President Kamala Harris as a potential alternative candidate.
While the exact date of their recent call is unclear, sources indicated it took place last week. Pelosi and Biden had also spoken earlier in July.
However, none of the sources confirmed whether Pelosi explicitly advised Biden to withdraw from the 2024 race during their recent conversation.
In response to queries about the conversation, White House spokesperson Andrew Bates emphasized that President Biden remains the Democratic nominee and is focused on winning the upcoming election. Bates reiterated Biden's commitment to working with congressional Democrats to advance his agenda for working families.
Pelosi, who has been receiving feedback from Democratic colleagues following Biden's debate performance, previously stated in an interview that the decision to run in 2024 ultimately rests with the president.
As of the latest update, Pelosi has been in California since Friday and has not had any subsequent conversations with Biden.
