The president’s conversation is the first indication that he is seriously considering whether he can recover after a devastating performance on the debate stage in Atlanta on Thursday.

President Biden has told a key ally that he knows he may not be able to salvage his candidacy if he cannot convince the public in the coming days that he is up for the job after a disastrous debate performance last week.

The president, who the ally emphasized is still deeply in the fight for re-election, understands that his next few appearances heading into the holiday weekend — including an interview scheduled for Friday with George Stephanopoulos of ABC News and campaign stops in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin — must go well.

“He knows if he has two more events like that, we’re in a different place” by the end of the weekend, said the ally, referring to Mr. Biden’s halting and unfocused performance in the debate. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive situation.

Andrew Bates, a White House spokesman, said the claim was “absolutely false” and that the White House had not been given enough time to respond.

The conversation is the first indication to become public that the president is seriously considering whether he can recover after a devastating performance on the debate stage in Atlanta on Thursday. Concerns are mounting about his viability as a candidate and whether he could serve as president for another four years.

A top adviser to Mr. Biden, who also spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the situation, said the president was “well aware of the political challenge he faces.”

Campaign officials were nervously watching polls, recognizing that bad numbers could fuel the crisis. A CBS News poll on Wednesday showed former President Donald J. Trump edging ahead of Mr. Biden since the debate with 50 percent to 48 percent nationally and 51 percent to 48 percent in battleground states.

Mr. Biden is slowly reaching out to Democratic elected officials and has a meeting with Democratic governors at the White House scheduled for Wednesday evening. He is also continuing to reach out to people he has long trusted and has told at least one person that he is open to the possibility that his plans to move on from his debate performance — and flip the focus back to his challenger, Mr. Trump — may not work.

Several allies of Mr. Biden, who has huddled with the family and advisers since the debate on Thursday, have underscored that the president is still in the fight of his political life and largely sees this moment as a chance to come back from being counted out, as he has done many times throughout his half-century career.

But he is also cleareyed, they said, about his uphill battle to convince voters, donors and the political class that his debate performance was an anomaly.

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/03/us/politics/biden-withdraw-election-debate.html#commentsContainer

I think the issue for voters is not whether he is fit to withstand the rigors of the campaign. The issue is whether he can be an effective President for the next term given the reality of biology we all have to accept.

He has had a long successful political career, but at 81, he needs to step down for Kamala Harris.

Donald trump should withdraw from the race as well, he's 78, an unhinged old man, a convicted felon that tells a lot of lies.

Propaganda from the opposition.

Hahahahaha......
It's Trump O'clock

What I've come to realize between the democrats and republicans is that, unlike the republican party where Donald trump can do or say anything and members of his party will keep quiet instead of calling him to order, we saw it played out for four years when trump was president, he has hijacked the republican party, but it isn't so in the democratic party

House democrats are already calling on president Biden to withdraw from the race over his poor performance in the last debate

...
I saw how they held his hand and move him away after that debate, not also forgetting the Brain freeze.

Mr Biden is not fit at all. The people pushing him do not like him. Politicians are the same everywhere indeed.

At first he categorically said he was going to run for just one term but greed made him want to run again.

Now look at how he handed the presidency back to Trump when a new candidate should have started campaign long ago with enough evidences to bring down Trump but now its too late

Welcome back president trump.

Migrants go hear'am

In my country, I haven't seen any candidates that step down no matter the health challenge or any other issues.

Mr Bidemi..please dont quit..u can do this

Democrats are liberals and soft liners but Biden seems to have lost his juice . It’s in USA best interest for him to step down .

The republicans are hardliners and Trump doesn’t seem to be a better replacement.

What’s happening in USA now is what might happen in 2027 Nigeria .

Like what happened in 2019 Nigeria .

Coward Biden

Nigerian incumbents will avoid debate and then rig. I applaud America for having decent systems not the sham we run.

Just do the right thing

Joe Biden is the American version of Ebola Tinibu.

Love

May almighty God safe American in the next up coming elections

Better he resigns honourably...

Rather than embarrass himself!

Biden knows that the odds of winning that election is seriously against him. Biden is a repackaged fraud. Many Americans have now realized this after 4 years.

Seriously Igbo people foresight needs to be studied in the university.

Igbos rejected Buhari, he ended up as a disaster.

Igbos rejected Tinubu, he turnout to be disaster.

Igbos rejected Biden and supported Trump, Biden turnout to be a disaster too.


I remember in 2020, Igbos were the only black community in the world that supported Trump and even held a rally for him. People mocked them for supporting a racist... 4years after, what is the result now?

Everybody including Black Americans that initially opposed him are now calling for his return.

Igbos has always been right.

Hmmmm

God1000:
I think the issue for voters is not whether he is fit to withstand the rigors of the campaign. The issue is whether he can be an effective President for the next term given the reality of biology we all have to accept.

He has had a long successful political career, but at 81, he needs to step down for Kamala Harris

Donald trump should withdraw from the race as well, he's 78, an unhinged old man, a convicted felon that tells a lot of lies

I expect nothing less from a Hamas sympathizer.

Names like Hillary Clinton, Michelle Obama are already coming up as a replacement for him
Make the man self go rest

Day don finally break for ham. Him eyes don clear wella

Trump 78, Biden 81. so this is what America wants to vote for? the whole of America. fuckingly old men

Raymond261:
Good American citizen still prefer him

You mean LGBTQ?

He is the best candidate

God1000:
I think the issue for voters is not whether he is fit to withstand the rigors of the campaign. The issue is whether he can be an effective President for the next term given the reality of biology we all have to accept.

He has had a long successful political career, but at 81, he needs to step down for Kamala Harris.

Donald trump should withdraw from the race as well, he's 78, an unhinged old man, a convicted felon that tells a lot of lies.

Trump should withdraw because Biden want to withdraw? Something is actually wrong with you..

Trump na agbero president. . That man na street wise politician.

Maga 2024 loading