Is NY really going to be a battleground state? State Dems worry over Biden polls

[KARAH RUCKER]

COULD THE STATE OF NEW YORK REALLY BE A BATTLEGROUND STATE THIS NOVEMBER?

SOME ELECTED OFFICIALS IN THE EMPIRE STATE ARE SUGGESTING – YES –

AND ARE PRESENTING CLOSE POLLING IN DEEP BLUE TERRITORY AS FURTHER EVIDENCE BIDEN SHOULD DROP OUT OF THE RACE.

AS TOP DEMOCRATS CONTINUE TO BE ASKED IF THEY’RE CONFIDENT IN THE PERSON AT THE TOP OF THEIR TICKET.

IT’S A STATE TRUMP HAS BEEN IN A LOT LATELY –

TOURING THE CITY IN BETWEEN COURT DATES DURING HIS NEW YORK FRAUD AND CRIMINAL TRIALS. 

IN A SWING NEW YORK HOUSE DISTRICT –

TWO POLLS FIND TRUMP LEADING BIDEN BY ONE POINT.

STATEWIDE POLLS OVER THE LAST FOUR MONTHS SHOW BIDEN’S LEAD HAS NARROWED TO EIGHT POINTS OVER TRUMP –

DESCRIBED BY POLITICO AS AN “UNUSUALLY NARROW GAP IN A STATE WHERE DEMOCRATS OUTNUMBER REPUBLICANS TWO TO ONE.”

POLITICO SAT DOWN WITH 10 DEMOCRATIC PARTY OFFICIALS ABOUT THE STATE OF AFFAIRS IN NEW YORK.

THE CONSENSUS?

BIDEN IS SLIPPING –

URGING THE PRESIDENT’S CAMPAIGN TO DO MORE IN THE STATE TO REASSURE ITS LONG-STANDING BASE.

ONE DEMOCRATIC PARTY SPOKESPERSON SAYS

[MARK LEVINE | DEMOCRATIC MANHATTAN BOROUGH PRESIDENT]

“We’re still acting like this is a one-party state, which for pretty much 20-25 years it has been. I truly believe we’re a battleground state now. The implications for control of Congress are real enough that I think this needs more national attention.”

[KARAH RUCKER]

WIDESPREAD IMPLICATIONS WERE ALSO RAISED IN A CLOSED-DOOR MEETING IN WASHINGTON TUESDAY – DEMOCRATS MET ON CAPITOL HILL FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE.

COLORADO SENATOR MICHAEL BENNET WAS ONE OF THREE SENATORS NAME-DROPPED IN REPORTS AS SAYING “BIDEN CAN’T WIN THE RACE IN NOVEMBER.”

THE SENATOR WENT ON CNN AFTER –

CONFIRMING HE DID SAY HE DOESN’T BELIEVE BIDEN WILL BEAT TRUMP –

TAKING IT A STEP FURTHER AND PREDICTING A POSSIBLE LANDSLIDE.

[SENATOR MICHAEL BENNET]

“Joe Biden was nine points up at this time the last time he was running, hillary was 5 points up, this is the first time in 20 years a republican president has been up at this point in the campaign. Donald trump is on track, i think, to win this election and maybe win it by a landslide and take with him the senate and the house.”

[KARAH RUCKER]

PROMINENT PARTY LEADER NANCY PELOSI WAS ALSO ASKED WHETHER BIDEN SHOULD STEP DOWN ON MSNBC’S MORNING JOE ON WEDNESDAY –

THE FORMER SPEAKER NOT SAYING HE SHOULD STEP DOWN, BUT AT THE SAME TIME NOT SAYING HE SHOULD REMAIN IN THE RACE –

AND TELLING DEMOCRATIC COLLEAGUES FOR NOW TO KEEP THEIR THOUGHTS TO THEMSELVES.

[PELOSI INTERVIEW]

“He said firmly this week that he is going to run. Do you want him to run?

I want him to do whatever he decides to do, and that’s the way it is, whatever he decides we go with.” 

“I’ve said to everyone, let’s just hold off, whatever you’re thinking, either tell someone privately, but you don’t have to put that on the table until we see how things go this week.”

[KARAH RUCKER]

EARLIER IN THE YEAR – IT WAS REPUBLICANS FIGHTING IT OUT TO DECIDE WHO WILL BE THEIR NOMINEE – DURING SOME, AT TIMES, CONTENTIOUS PRIMARIES.

NOW THE PRESSURE TO FIND CONSENSUS ON A CANDIDATE IS SHIFTING TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE –

WITH TIME RUNNING OUT.