Democrats gathered over the weekend to address growing anxiety over President Joe Biden's re-election chances swelled the ranks of those calling for him to step down.

After a private call with Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Sunday, four top Democrats called for Biden to end his re-election bid, according to multiple reports.

Reps. Jerry Nadler (D-NY), Joe Morelle (D-NY), Adam Smith (D-WA) and Mark Takano (D-CA) were looking for the frail 81-year-old to drop out of the running, allowing a another Democrat to be nominated, according to Politico, the New York Times and others.

(Video credit: CBS News Minnesota)

The lawmakers joined five other House Democrats who have expressed concern about Biden's re-election prospects in statements.

“Smith is the top Democrat on the Armed Services Committee. Nadler holds similar positions on the Judiciary Committee, Takano on the Veterans Affairs Committee and Morelle on the House Administration Committee. NBC news pointed out.

“A number of lawmakers on the call did not call for a new candidate, but expressed significant concerns about Democrats' chances in November with Biden at the top of the ticket. Among them were Reps. Jamie Raskin of Maryland, Don Beyer of Virginia and Jim Himes of Connecticut,” the outlet reported, noting that “Even those who did not explicitly call for Biden to withdraw expressed concern that he is not the strongest candidate to beat former President Donald Trump in November.”

Raskin denied saying anything about Biden stepping aside, telling NBC News he “never said that.”

“When asked if he said on the call that Biden couldn't win against Trump in November, Raskin said, 'I never said that and I don't believe it,'” the outlet reported.

“President Biden is a good man and I appreciate his life of service,” Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN) wrote to X. “But I think he should step aside for the next generation of leadership.”

Biden was “vigorously” defended on the call by Reps. Maxine Waters and Barbara Lee, both D-CA., while Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-FL) had strong words for her colleagues who called on Biden to resign

“Any 'leader' calling for President Biden to step down needs to get their priorities straight and stop undermining this incredible real leader who has delivered real results for our country,” Wilson said in a statement.

Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) told NBC's “Meet the Press” that the president should think “whether he made the right decision to run or pass the torch.” This is the most important decision he has to make now.”

The president spoke to a friendly audience at the Church of God in Christ in Mt. Airy while in Philadelphia Sunday morning. saying “the Lord Almighty” is the only thing that could convince him to step aside.

“You've never given up in my life. And as president, I've tried to follow my faith,” he told the mostly black congregation.

“You know, invoking God Almighty as the only intervention that will deter him from going forward, I hope Joe Biden didn't really mean it,” Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA) told CNN. “Look, this is a very human process, not a divine process. While we all hope for God's blessings, politics is a very human business and we have to make very difficult decisions about the future. And so does he.”

Biden has reiterated his determination to stay in the race since his disastrous debate performance against former President Donald Trump ignited calls for him to abandon the Democratic ticket.

“I will not let a 90-minute debate eliminate three and a half years of work. I'm staying in the race and I'm going to beat Donald Trump,” Biden declared last week in Wisconsin.

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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida, where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.

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