Representative Nancy Pelosi, the former House Speaker, suggested on Wednesday that President Joe Biden should reconsider his decision to remain in the presidential race, the strongest public push yet from a senior member of his party for him to weigh dropping out.

Despite mounting concerns that his candidacy could cost Democrats not only the White House but both chambers of Congress, Biden has been unequivocal about his intention to seek a second term, telling members of Congress in a letter on Monday that his mind is made up and “I’m firmly committed to staying in this race.” On Wednesday, Pelosi said on MSNBC’s Morning Joe that the President should continue to weigh his options.

“It’s up to the President to decide if he is going to run,” she said. “We’re all encouraging him” to make that decision. “Because time is running short.”

When pressed on whether she wanted him to seek re-election, Pelosi said: “I want him to do whatever he decides to do. And that’s the way it is. Whatever he decides, we go with.”

Pelosi said she wanted to delay the conversations about Biden’s future until after the Nato summit he is hosting this week in Washington, which on Thursday will include the President’s first news conference since his disastrous debate performance that raised questions about his mental acuity and fitness to remain in the race.

“Let’s just hold off,” she said. “Whatever you’re thinking, either tell somebody privately, but you don’t have to put that out on the table until we see how we go this week.”

New York Times News Service