NEW YORK (PIX11) -- New York's top Democratic leaders are split on whether or not President Biden should continue to be the party's nominee in November.
"I will just tell you what I saw myself, nothing to be concerned about to make sure we are victorious against Donald Trump in November," said Governor Kathy Hochul under intense questioning about her support for Mr. Biden Thursday.
One day prior, Lt. Governor Antonio Delgado said it is time for Biden to step aside. Hochul vehemently disagrees with his statement.
"He (Mr. Biden) says he is in it to win and therefore every day we are talking about this is a day we're not talking about the existential threat of Donald Trump begging President.
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand also said she would unequivocally support Mr. Biden and said Mr. Trump a convicted felon facing more felony charges would have authoritarian tendencies.
However, there is growing chorus of voices, including actor and key Democratic fundraiser George Clooney, saying Democrats cannot win with Mr. Biden in November. Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi has left the door open to Biden stepping back as well.
Thursday Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of Brooklyn did not exactly give a ringing endorsement.
"Our conversations have be candid comprehensive and clear eyed and they are ongoing," Jeffries repeated several times when pressed.
The cracks is the Democratic caucus are real-- with some vulnerable swing district Democrats like Congressman Pat Ryan from the Upper Hudson Valley say Biden must step aside.
"We have to stop Trump and we need the best candidate to do it," Ryan said on the PIX 11 Morning News. "Unfortunately because I respect the President so much personally, but unfortunately he is not the person to do that right now; and it's bigger than any person, it's just too essential.
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