In a high-stakes political maneuver, there is an increasing push within the Democratic Party to fast-track President Joe Biden's formal nomination, with plans underway to kick off the virtual roll call process as early as next week. However, this move is drawing fresh scrutiny and intensifying calls for Biden to reconsider his reelection bid.

According to three Democratic officials familiar with the discussions, Biden allies are advocating for an aggressive timeline, aiming to conclude the nomination process before August 7, well in advance of the party's convention in Chicago. Two key Democratic committees are set to convene this week to determine the exact timeline for delegates across the country to start casting their votes, with the earliest possible date being after the second meeting on Sunday.

The implementation of the DNC virtual roll call process was initially devised to overcome a challenge in Ohio that could have left Biden off the ballot in that state. Although Ohio lawmakers have since addressed the issue, the virtual roll call could still face a potential legal challenge from Ohio Republicans. Despite these concerns, there is growing unrest among Democrats who fear that Biden's candidacy could lead to a defeat against Donald Trump, jeopardizing the Democratic ticket as a whole.

Representative Jared Huffman, a progressive Democrat from California, expressed his disapproval of the virtual roll call vote, labeling it a "terrible idea" and a "dumb thing." Huffman emphasized the need for a course of action to address the challenges facing Biden's campaign: "If the election were held today, he would get crushed. We have got to do something about it."

Criticism of the virtual roll call process is not confined to Huffman alone. Another House Democrat highlighted the widespread disbelief and concern over the decision, stating, "The disbelief that they'd expedite the nomination is as widespread as the recognition the DNC is leading Democrats into a house fire with water bottles."

Efforts to contact the Biden campaign and the Democratic National Committee regarding this pressure campaign have been made by CNN but have yielded no response yet. The potential collision among different quarters of the Democratic Party, as some leaders attempt to expedite Biden's nomination, threatens to spark anger and a possible rebellion within the party.

The virtual roll call process, which had previously garnered little attention, has come under scrutiny following Biden's lackluster debate performance in June. Questions about Biden's future within the race have heightened concerns among delegates. Confusion persists over the Ohio law that prompted the DNC to proceed with the roll call before the Chicago convention.

As the clock ticks, influential Democrats connected to the White House have set the start of the mid-August party convention as the deadline for Biden to determine his candidacy. Representative James Clyburn of South Carolina cautioned, "If he decides to change his mind later on, then we would respond to that. We have until the 19th of August to open our convention."

To voice their concern and impede the process, Democratic House members and delegates are circulating a draft letter, calling for a slowing down of the nomination process. The draft highlights the absence of a legal justification for accelerating the process by nearly a month and underscores the ongoing debate surrounding Biden's future within the party.

While there are varying opinions on whether Biden should step aside or continue as the nominee, there is a consensus among signatories of the letter that prematurely proceeding with the virtual roll call vote would be detrimental to the morale and unity of the party.

Representative Huffman warned of a significant backlash if the DNC proceeds with the plans and emphasized the need for Biden to instill confidence in his campaign among Democrats. While not yet calling for Biden's replacement, Huffman stressed the importance of giving the president more time to generate enthusiasm among supporters, warning that it would be much more challenging to replace Biden once he becomes the formal nominee.

The timing and distribution of the draft letter are currently unspecified, but Huffman confirmed its authenticity. This move represents a critical turning point for the Democratic Party as pressure mounts from within to reassess Biden's candidacy.