President Biden has kept a public distance from Hill fights that’ll help define his legacy, based on confidence that Dems will ultimately be with him despite bucking and bellyaching.

Between the lines: “He’s not gonna beg,” said an official with firsthand knowledge of the president’s mindset. “His view is: ‘You’re Democrats, and you’re with your president or you’re not.'”

The hardball is driven by several factors, according to people who have discussed the negotiations with Biden:

He’s from a generation of politicians for whom party loyalty is automatic.

He’s confident Speaker Pelosi will deliver.

He believes he’ll ultimately get a big win.