Scoop: Schumer's pre-debate fears come true

Before Thursday night's debate, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) had signaled to political allies that he was open to options other than President Biden if his debate performance was disastrous, Axios has learned.

Why it matters: Schumer was clearly bracing for the possibility that his party's presumptive nominee — whom he served with for two decades in the Senate — could have a bad night. Biden did.

• Schumer wasn't hatching a secret plan to swap out Biden for a player to be named later, but he liked the idea of any early debate for a couple of reasons, two people familiar with the matter told Axios.
• It would give Biden time to recover from a potentially poor showing.
• It would also give the Democratic Party more time to consider the best way forward.

Driving the news: Democrats' worst nightmares about Biden's age, mental stamina, verbal dexterity became a primetime reality Thursday.

• Columnists and pundits are loudly sounding the alarm about Biden's ability to defeat Trump, elected Democrats aren't publicly turning on Biden.

But if conversations about possibly ditching Biden in the coming weeks are to be taken seriously, they would need to come from some of the party's most senior leaders, like Schumer

• He's still in Biden's corner.

What they're saying: "Leader Schumer has always supported and continues to support President Biden as the nominee and believes he will be re-elected," said a Schumer spokesperson.

• "Tonight's debate made the choice clear: Four more years of progress, or four more years of attacks on our fundamental rights and our democracy. We've got to get out the vote for @JoeBiden, @KamalaHarris, and a Democratic Senate and House!" Schumer posted on X.

The big picture: After the debate was announced May 15, some Democrats were concerned about Biden's ability to recover from a poor showing — and the possibility he could hemorrhage support all summer.

• Schumer took a more optimistic view of the early schedule, arguing that time was on the Biden campaign's side.
• Friday, the Biden campaign moved to repair the damage.
• Biden made an energetic appearance at a North Carolina rally, where he tried to couch the contest between him and Trump as an existential fight for democracy.

Between the lines: Biden also relying on some help from an old friend. Former President Obama tried to use his stature to tell everyone to essentially chill.

• "Bad debate nights happen," Obama posted on X.
• Former President Clinton also joined in. "I'll leave the debate rating to the pundits, but here's what I know: facts and history matter. Joe Biden has given us 3 years of solid leadership, Clinton posted on X. "That's what's really at stake in November."

Go deeper: As Democrats' leader in the Senate, Schumer is attuned to the down-ballot implication of a strong, or weak, presidential candidate atop the ticket.

• One of his party's best tacticians, Schumer has worked closely with Biden on passing legislation to protect vulnerable members — but his loyalties are to his party and his senators.
• This November, Schumer's Democrats likely will need a strong performance from the top of the ballot for their Senate candidates to sweep races in swing states such as Michigan, Wisconsin and Nevada the party probably needs to retain control of the chamber.
• So far, Schumer's Democratic candidates are running ahead of Biden's pace in almost every swing state.

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