Democratic President Joe Biden’s relatives have urged him to resist calls to resign following his disastrous debate against Republican Donald Trump.
According to CBS News, Biden spent Sunday with family members at a presidential retreat, where they encouraged him to continue his fight.
Concerns have arisen within his party following a disjointed and occasionally unclear performance in Atlanta.
Recent polls indicate heightened worries about his age—he is 81 years old.
A CBS News/YouGov poll released on Sunday showed that 72% of registered Democratic voters believe the president lacks the mental and cognitive health necessary to fulfill his role. Nearly half of those polled suggested he should step aside.
Despite these concerns, Biden’s campaign team and family maintain that he remains the Democratic Party’s best chance to defeat Trump.
The family gathering at Camp David in Maryland was previously scheduled for a photoshoot by celebrity photographer Annie Leibovitz. In attendance were Mr. Biden’s wife Jill, his children, and grandchildren.
The family’s encouragement for Biden to persevere was initially reported by the New York Times and subsequently confirmed by CBS News.
Some family members have reportedly attributed his poor performance to excessive preparation by his aides. A source close to Jill Biden informed CBS that she did not join those criticizing his team.
Concerns regarding the age of both candidates — Biden at 81 and Trump at 78 — existed prior to Thursday’s debate.
However, Biden’s strained voice and confused responses renewed doubts about his candidacy, prompting calls for him to consider stepping aside.
The New York Times editorial board argued in an opinion piece that the “greatest public service [Biden] can now perform is to announce that he will not seek re-election.”
Trump also faced criticism for his performance, making several false claims, including his ongoing assertion that the 2020 election was rigged against him.
On Sunday, prominent Democrats appeared on morning talk shows to defend the president.
“When you get knocked down, you get back up and you fight harder,” said Senator Chris Coons.
Maryland congressman Jamie Raskin did entertain the notion that Mr Biden might not be the candidate come the Democratic convention in August when the presidential nominee will be crowned.
“Whether he’s the candidate or someone else is the candidate, he’s going to be the keynote speaker at our convention. He will be the figure that we rally around to move forward,” said Mr Raskin.
Republicans said the debate showed why Trump was the right choice.
“Joe Biden had a disastrous performance, which is why they’re talking about replacing him,” Republican Senator JD Vance said on Fox News on Sunday.
If Mr. Biden were to step aside, the Democratic Party could potentially identify a new candidate in time for the convention, but the process would be complex and not without challenges.