Joe Biden may have been dealt a heavy blow amid reports Barack Obama has told allies that the US President should seriously consider whether to remain in the presidential race.
Mr Obama reportedly believes Mr Biden’s chances to win have greatly diminished, the Washington Post has reported. Yet, Mr Obama believes the incumbent president needs to make the decision to quit himself.
AP also reported sources claiming to the news outlet that Mr Obama has privately expressed concerns to Democrats about Mr Biden’s candidacy. Mr Biden was Mr Obama’s Vice President for eight years, and has previously enjoyed his vocal support.
These bombshell reports came just hours after it was claimed that top Democrats believe US President Joe Biden may be persuaded to drop out of the presidential race as soon as this weekend.
Mr Biden, elected in 2020, has been subjected to rising pressure from party congressional leaders and close friends in recent weeks to let another Democrat running for president against Donald Trump.
The US President, whose poor performance against Mr Trump at the TV debate they took part in June startled many supporters, is also trailing behind the republican candidate in polls, which is adding pressure on the 81-year-old.
Mr Biden, who has been self-isolating with COVID-19 since Wednesday, remains publicly committed to defeating Mr Trump at the polls in November.
But a group of Democrats have claimed to news outlet Axios he’s privately resigned that the current environment makes it impossible for him to continue his campaign.
Behind the scenes, the US President is being told that continuing the presidential race could hand former President Trump a landslide victory that would wipe out the work done by Mr Biden over the past three years and his legacy.
Some major Democrat voices have publicly called on Mr Biden to step aside. Earlier this month Hollywood star George Clooney penned a damning op-ed for the New York Times, in which he claimed the Biden he met at a fundraising event three weeks prior was not the same man of 2010. He added: “He wasn’t even the Joe Biden of 2020.”
Hours prior to the publication of this damning plea, senior Democrat Nancy Pelosi had swerved questions about whether Mr Biden should remain in the presidential race.
Other Democrats have publicly voiced their concerns about Mr Biden remaining as presidential candidate – including Rep. Adam Schiff who, on track to win a California Senate seat, said he believes it is time for the US President to “pass the torch”.
Many Democrat voters also appear to be convinced Mr Biden isn’t the best presidential candidate to win the race.
A poll by AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research suggested that nearly two-thirds of Democrats believe Mr Biden should withdraw from the presidential race and let his party nominate a different candidate.
The poll, conducted on 1,253 adults between July 11 and 15, also found that only about 3 in 10 Democrats are extremely or very confident that Mr Biden has the mental capability to serve effectively as president.