President Joe Biden is facing unprecedented pressure from some senior lawmakers to step aside and allow the Democrats to choose an alternative candidate to challenge Donald Trump in the November election following his disastrous performance in last week's televised debate.
Biden, who will turn 82 just two weeks after the November vote, has trailed his predecessor in most national polls, as well as in key battleground states, for much of the past year, with many voters citing his advanced age and perceptions of declining mental acuity.
His unsteady appearance in last week's nationally-televised debate, as well as his frequent verbal pauses and inaccurate recollections of fact, have only added to concerns that he is not only unlikely to match former President Trump's energy on the campaign trail but perhaps may not be able to see out a second term should he emerge victorious on November 8.
The New York Times, in fact, reported Wednesday that Biden is now weighing whether to continue with his reelection effort, conceding to an unnamed "key ally" that if he is unable to turn around public opinion over the coming days, he may stand down. The White House denied the claim.
The Times also reported that Trump's lead over Biden in the polls of likely voters has widened to around six percentage points, with nearly three-quarters of those surveyed indicating his is "too old for the job".