Top Democrats now believe Biden will exit | 18 July 2024 | Several top Democrats privately tell Axios the rising pressure of party congressional leaders and close friends will persuade Joe Biden to decide to drop out of the presidential race as soon as this weekend. The 81-year-old Biden [fully vaccinated and boosted], now self-isolating with COVID, remains publicly dug in. But privately he's resigned to mounting pressure, bad polls, and untenable scrutiny making it impossible to continue his campaign, the Democrats tell us. The private message, distilled to its bluntest form: The top leaders of his party, his friends and key donors believe he can't win, can't change public perceptions of his age and acuity, and can't deliver congressional majorities.