AOC gives a full-throated defense of Biden: 'He is not leaving this race'

• Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez doubled down on her support of President Joe Biden.
• The New York Democrat said "the matter is closed" and Biden is the party's nominee.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York has declared she is firmly behind President Joe Biden, even as some of her fellow House Democrats continue to fret about the president's standing.

"The matter is closed," Ocasio-Cortez told reporters on Monday after returning to Washington. "He had reiterated that this morning. He has reiterated that to the public. Joe Biden is our nominee. He is not leaving this race. He is in this race, and I support him."

Ocasio-Cortez said she had spoken to Biden over the weekend.

Considering her enormous following and popularity among the party's base, Ocasio-Cortez's backing will boost Biden. While six House Democrats have called for Biden to step aside following his disastrous debate performance, the president has managed to contain a massive public outcry for now.

On Monday, Biden made clear that it is time for the party to move on from its soul-searching after his debate performance raised questions about his ability to defeat former President Donald Trump. Biden has repeatedly made clear he's not going anywhere.

"The question of how to move forward has been well-aired for over a week now," Biden wrote in a letter to House Democrats. "And it's time for it to end."

Ocasio-Cortez, who endorsed Biden last summer, is no stranger to delivering support at critical times. Her decision to endorse Sen. Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign in 2019 following Sanders' heart attack greatly boosted the senator's campaign during a difficult period. Ultimately, Sanders lost the primary to Biden, but Ocasio-Cortez's endorsement remains a major moment of the 2020 campaign.