The NY Times has a regular feature where they hold a focus group with 12 random people on a given topic. The latest installment asked 12 Democrats how they feel about their party and its leadership. The responses probably won’t be seen as great news by the White House.

The themes that emerged from our talk provide a warning for the party. For more than an hour, the participants considered its future and the people who might lead them into it. Mr. Biden’s name didn’t come up once until we asked about him, more than 75 minutes into the conversation…

Most of this group still believed that the Democrats remained the party of the people. But for these 12, at least, too rarely has it delivered results.

Early on there’s a question about the current direction of the country. Two of the respondents mentioned inflation, two more mentioned the cost of living and another two just said the economy. So at least half of the respondents don’t seem thrilled with Bidenomics.

Andres, when you said “cost of living,” what were you thinking of?

Andres, 41, Latino, Florida, account manager
Just your everyday spending, like on groceries. You hear these reports that things are improving, but then you do your own assessment of your own grocery bills and utilities and just day-to-day sort of things that you need to get by. It feels like things are still not coming down. I’m in Florida, where it’s — everything’s just gotten so expensive.

Yvonne, 60, Latina, Delaware, retired
I’ve seen in the last two years how much food prices, formula prices, everything has gone up. I have to travel in between states to get my daughter formula because in New Jersey, it costs almost $10 more for a container than it would where I live. So I stock it up, bring it to her. I mean, it’s ridiculous. These poor kids can’t live on what they make. They’re paying back all their student loans, which are charging 7 percent, 8 percent in interest rates. It’s like — it’s ridiculous. It’s out of control.

Kimberly, 40, Black, Connecticut, corporate social responsibility specialist
For me, looking at the economy, cost of living, inflation, I just feel like even if I’m doing all the right things, I’m still not going to be able to get ahead. And every year, it just keeps getting worse and worse. I just don’t know how things are going to improve, no matter who’s in office.

A bit later in the conversation, the participants were asked who they’d like to see leading the party and the responses ranged form AOC to Pete Buttigieg to Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. Finally, the moderator asked directly if Joe Biden should be running again.

Andres, 41, Latino, Florida, account manager
I guess I’m on the fence. I am the most confident that if he does run, he will defeat Trump. So for that reason, yes, he should. But I’m just kind of worried about his age. That’s the one factor. But I still am confident that he will get re-elected. But yeah, that’s the only factor.

Yvonne, 60, Latina, Delaware, retired
His age is showing a lot. He’s not so strong. We need someone stronger. We need someone to defeat the other side, unfortunately, if it’s Trump, especially. And unfortunately, I like the man, but I think his time is done.

Emil, 71, Black, New York, retired
Thank goodness he has a vice president. That’s who I’d really be voting for.

Three Democrats weighed in on that question and all of them seemed concerned about Biden’s age. So far was we know, the closest anyone got to expressing support for Biden running again was Andres saying he could beat Trump.

Not a lot of enthusiasm for Biden or for Bidenomics. What did come up several times was disappointment that Biden hadn’t followed through on promises to cancel student debt. That seems to be serving as a kind of touchstone of Biden failing to deliver on promises, at least for this group. If Biden hopes to win next year he’s going to have to generate a lot more enthusiasm than he seems to be doing right now.