One of the legendary reporters who chronicled the Watergate scandal says an irate President Joe Biden now recognizes he faces long odds to defeat former President Donald Trump — and could announce Monday that he's dropping out of the race.
Carl Bernstein talked Friday night with CNN's Anderson Cooper on "AC360," and said, "the president himself has now moved from being what was called 'contemplative' about his situation to recognition that it's very unlikely that his candidacy can be sustained."
That's true of his family as well, Bernstein said. Even so, the president feels "angry" and "abandoned" by Democratic leaders, including and most vociferously toward Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.)
"The word abandoned was used several times in discussions that I've had with people in the White House. The people that he has supported through his political career and helped advance through the ladder of leadership in Washington have now turned their back on him, in his view, and in a really ugly way."
Biden's wife, Jill, and his son Hunter are openly questioning why the loyalty and appreciation for Biden has been abandoned from people he helped through the process, Bernstein said.
Read also: 'It’s just my brain': Biden tells Dems of new bed time to rally campaign support
Additionally, they now have a "hell of a mess," Bernstein added, quoting a source. Biden would have to leave his campaign "in an orderly way in which he's recognized for his achievements" on behalf of a party that will continue on, And name a nominee who can be successful in winning come Nov. 5.
"But right now, you have a really ugly scene around the president, around the leadership of the House and the Senate, of whom he is angry, we've never been in a place like this before," said Bernstein, naming Schumer and former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA).
The conversations — and concern — also concern money.
"The money has dried up," he said. "I was told about an extraordinary June meeting last Wednesday involving the top donors and fundraisers for Biden, who said, 'Not another penny' was the phrase that was used several times. 'Not another penny!' Not only to the Biden campaign, but also to the House and Senate Democrats, because the message that these donors and bundlers wanted to convey to Chuck Schumer, especially, to Hakeem Jeffries, was we must have this election go forth without Joe Biden being our candidate."
Those donors demanded Democratic leaders do more to force Biden to step aside.
"So we have a kind of a retribution almost felt in the air. And it's not a pretty scene," said Bernstein.
Also of note: the big donors don't want Democrats to anoint Vice President Kamala Harris as the nominee — they prefer an open primary.
"She would have to compete to be the presidential nominee, along with everybody else," he said.
