Former president Barack Obama has told allies that Joe Biden needs to “seriously consider” dropping out of the race, according to reports.
Mr Obama has been receiving calls from concerned Democrats, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), and has shared his own views on the viability of Mr Biden’s candidacy.
According to multiple sources briefed on the matter, Mr Obama has only spoken with Mr Biden once since the debate but believes the president needs to assess his options.
It comes as leading Democrats indicate Mr Biden will be persuaded to quit the presidential race as soon as this weekend, according to reports.
Allies of the 81-year-old president, including Ms Pelosi, have been presenting him with polling showing Donald Trump could win a landslide victory in the November election if he does not drop out.
Mr Biden is becoming more “receptive” to the pleas for him to stand aside, according to The New York Times.
Democrats have now told Axios that the president, who is isolating with Covid-19, could be persuaded to exit the election as early as this weekend after becoming privately resigned that the unrelenting scrutiny around his campaign makes his presidential bid untenable.
Ms Pelosi cautioned him that his continued presence could jeopardise Democrats’ prospects of reclaiming the House, while Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer told him that it would be best to “drop out”.
