2024 election updates: Manchin the latest to call on Biden to end reelection bid

Progressive-leaning Democratic voters who attended the Netroots Convention in Baltimore Maryland Friday told ABC News they still plan to vote for Biden in November amid calls for the president to step aside.

First-time voter Emily Kolonder, 19, from New York says she believes Biden is the candidate who best aligns with her views on abortion access and climate change.

"Knowing both candidates’ policies, I will still be voting for Biden. But do I think someone of that age and that mental ability should be able to be President? No. But, when you have these two options, I think he [Biden] is the better of the two candidates," Kolonder said.

Kolonder said that while she would support a different Democratic candidate if Biden were to pull out of the race. However, she is not confident Kamala Harris can beat Donald Trump.

"I don't think she can get enough votes. I would personally support her, but I don't think she can win," she said.

Davonna Williams, a 30-year-old voter from Kansas City, Missouri said that while she believes in Biden’s abilities as president, she thinks he’s a “hard sell” to disenchanted voters following his most recent gaffes.

“I think what should have happened is that there should have been some planning, like a year, two years out, because we knew this point was coming. We knew it was happening. And I just feel like there was a lack of planning on the Democratic side,” Williams said.

Williams said she worries the calls for Biden to step aside may result in low voter turnout as infighting continues to grow.

"I certainly don't think it helps. I think if anything, it'll make folks just say ‘I'm just not going to vote," she added.

-ABC News' Briana Stewart and Emily Chang

Biden's talk with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus did not go smoothly, according to multiple sources who had knowledge of the meeting.

One member who was on the call with the president told ABC News it was "frustrating," saying it went "off the rails" at one point.

The president was an hour late to the call, three sources said.

When it finally started, Bold PAC, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus campaign arm, who organized the virtual meeting said only two members would be allowed to ask questions, but Biden ended up taking three questions.

Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, who strongly implied Biden should resign in a statement released Thursday, and Rep. Gabe Vasquez both tried to ask questions by using the raise-hand feature on Zoom but it kept being taken down, according to a source.

This source blamed campaign staff who the source felt were trying to control the call.

Rep. Mike Levin was not on the list of 'pre-selected' members to ask questions, but when Biden opened it up the call to others, Levin told him it was time to step aside and allow someone else to lead the Democratic ticket.

Biden responded at length, according to two sources, with, "That's why I'm going out and letting people touch me, poke me, ask me questions. I think I know what I'm doing because the truth of the matter is I'm going to say something outrageous: No president in three years has done what we have in three years other than Franklin Roosevelt, because of your help."

"That's not hyperbole, that's a fact. No president. And so, that doesn't answer the question," Biden added, according to the sources.

"That was great when you were feeling good, 'Biden, are you OK now?'" Biden continued, talking in the third person, the sources said. "That’s what’s underlying. That’s what people are worried about. 'I’ve got a grandfather who’s 85 years old, and he can’t walk.' It’s a legitimate concern for people, but that’s why I think it’s important I get out and show people everything from how well I move to how much I know and that I’m still in good charge."

Biden tried to take another question and then the meeting ended abruptly, according to one person on the call and another person who was briefed after the 30-minute call.

Two congressional members who were on the call, however, described a more cordial call.

U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar D-Tex said in a post on X "It was a great conversation."

"I am focused on what we need to do to win in November. Donald Trump is an existential threat, especially to our Latino communities. And I remain proud to be #RidingWithBidenHarris2024," she said in her post.

Sen. Alex Padilla said in a post on X that "POTUS engaged with us on strategy and demonstrated once again that he is clear-eyed on the path forward to defeating Trump and MAGA extremism."

"He’s had our communities’ backs over the last three years and we’ll have his this November," the senator said in his post.

-ABC News' Rachel Scott, Mariam Khan and MaryAlice Parks

Speaking to supporters at a grill in Detroit before his rally Friday evening, Biden tried to allay fears about his age.

"For the longest time I was too young, because I was the second youngest man ever elected to the United States Senate, and anyway, and now I'm too old, but I know hopefully with a little bit of age comes a little bit of wisdom," he said.

He made the contrast with Donald Trump stating, "And hopefully that in this in this moment, I think the alternative is not much of an alternative. And I do think ethics matter. I do think decency matters."

Biden ended by assuring the crowd, "I promise you, I'm okay. Thank you."

-ABC News' Will McDuffie, Gabriella Abdul-Hakim and Fritz Farrow

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer will not attend Biden's campaign event in Detroit on Friday, her spokesperson confirmed to ABC News.

Whitmer, who is the Biden campaign co-chair, is in Sun Valley, Idaho, for the annual Sun Valley Conference, an exclusive, private retreat of tech and media power players.

She’s had that travel planned for several weeks, the spokesperson said. Biden officially announced his Michigan rally this week.

Rep. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, who is running for the state’s open Senate seat, will also skip the rally, according to her spokesperson.

"The congresswoman had previous commitments outside Michigan today," a spokesperson told ABC News.

-ABC News' Isabella Murray