Democrats Concerned Biden Press Conference Leaves Them in 'Purgatory': NUTDU

President Joe Biden's highly anticipated press conference went better than his debate performance, but it wasn't a master class. Democrats worry they're back where they started before he spoke on Thursday night.

Biden's remarks included a strong defense of his record and a detailed explanation of his foreign policy, but also featured notable mistakes, such as mixing up the names of his vice president and his rival. This has left Democrats with mixed feelings, as the party continues to grapple with the fallout from last month's debate, where Biden's rambling answers led to discussions about replacing him on the 2024 ballot.

"This isn't a home run. It's not a disaster, but it also doesn't prove he can campaign and win. This doesn't erase the debate, and it doesn't move the polls. If I'm a member of Congress or a donor, I'm not walking away from this inspired, so the issues he had before the presser remain," said one former House Democratic aide.

"This is the worst-case scenario—it doesn't change the dynamic, and that was the goal," the person added. "We're still stuck in purgatory."

Biden began his press conference by praising this week's NATO summit, highlighting that the alliance is "not only stronger" but also "bigger" under his leadership, while critiquing former President Donald Trump's skepticism of the alliance.

"Have you seen a more successful conference?" he shot back at one reporter during the event's question-and-answer period.

He engaged with journalists on complex topics like Russia's war in Ukraine and the conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, demonstrating his understanding of these issues. He also dismissed questions about his mental fitness and defended his decision to remain in the race, stating, "We've got to finish this job because there's so much at stake."

"It absolutely should," said Democratic strategist Karen Finney when asked if his performance would ease concerns. "He answered the tough questions, provided detailed substantive answers, and was frank about the concerns that have been raised."

"I think he convinced a lot of people he should stay in the race," added Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., on CNN Thursday night, just days after he mentioned that Democrats were not "reading from the same book" regarding the president's chances this November.

Other moments, however, sparked alarm.

Near the end of the summit, Biden mistakenly referred to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as "President Putin," confusing him with Vladimir Putin, the Russian president who invaded Ukraine. Additionally, at the start of the Q&A session, he mistakenly called Vice President Kamala Harris "Vice President Trump," a slip that quickly spread across social media and left Democrats cringing.

"This was even worse than I thought it would be," one Democratic pollster said. "It was over the moment he said, 'Vice President Trump.'"

The pollster added, "I don't think he can withstand what is coming."

While the press conference didn't immediately lead to a surge of new calls for Biden to drop out, it did result in a setback when Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, released a statement right after the press conference, highlighting that some Democrats had already made up their minds before the event began.

"It has been the honor of my career to work with him on the achievements that have secured his remarkable legacy in American history," Himes said in a statement, referencing health care reform, infrastructure funding, and gun safety measures, while praising Biden's "unconditional patriotism."

"It is because of those traits, and in consideration of that legacy, that I hope President Biden will step away from the presidential campaign."

Reps. Scott Peters, D-Calif., and Eric Sorensen, D-Ill., also issued similarly timed statements calling for Biden to drop out.

Overall, the press conference seems unlikely to shift the stance of a Democratic political class that hasn't seen enough to either push for Biden's ouster or fully rally behind him.

"There were no disastrous mistakes. His economic vision was clear. But we'll still be in a wait-and-see mode because nothing else has changed," said veteran Democratic National Committee member James Zogby.

Biden's campaign has been working hard to change this dynamic since the disastrous debate.

A consensus emerged that a more proactive approach was necessary—more travel and more unscripted moments would be needed to alleviate concerns about Biden's age and electability.

The campaign sent him to Pennsylvania and Wisconsin and arranged interviews with George Stephanopoulos and, coming Monday, Lester Holt. Biden also sent House Democrats a strongly worded letter on Tuesday, affirming his intention to remain in the race. Yet, Democrats are still in a difficult position. "It's the George interview all over again," one Democratic strategist said of the press conference, comparing it to the Stephanopoulos interview that was seen as just good enough for Biden to hold on, but not enough to quell the ongoing concerns.

Conversations are expected to continue among Democrats on Capitol Hill regarding how closely to align with Biden, if at all. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., on Thursday praised the "candid, clear-eyed and comprehensive" discussions lawmakers are having, stating he would "respect the sanctity of those conversations until we conclude that process."

However, the conclusion of that process appears to be nowhere in sight.

"This was in many ways the worst-case scenario for Dems," one battleground Democratic strategist told News US Today USA on Thursday. "The president and his team will see this as a huge success, while everyone else will see this as just another example that he's too past his prime to win."