Biden says 'I'm not going' as pressure mounts to quit

President Joe Biden on Wednesday began reassuring senior Democratic leaders and officials amid concerns about his future after a poor performance in a presidential debate with former President Donald Trump. He attended a closed-door lunch with Kamala Harris at the White House amid speculation that Vice President Kamala Harris might replace him in the November election.

Then they took part in a party campaign on the phone where mr. Biden has made it clear that he is in the fight, and Ms. Harris has also reiterated her support. “I am the nominee of the Democrat Party. No one can kick me out. I'm not leaving," a source told BBC News.

A few hours later a fundraising e-mail made the same statement. I want to say plainly and simply that I am fighting," he said in an e-mail, adding "I will be in this race until the end".

After the debate with Trump, questions swirled about whether the 81-year-old Biden would continue to campaign. Repeatedly lost in debates, his voice was weak and some of his answers were difficult to understand. This raises questions within the party about his fitness to serve as president and his ability to win elections.

Then, as opinion polls showed him widening his gap with his Republican challenger, pressure mounted on him to drop out of the race. A New York Times poll after the debate showed Trump now leading by six points, the largest margin ever. The results of the public opinion poll were released on Wednesday.

Another poll by CBS, the BBC's US partner, shows Trump ahead of Biden by three points in contested states. According to that survey, the former president is ahead nationally. Public calls by some Democratic Party donors and lawmakers for the president to step down have hurt the election.

Massachusetts-based Indian-American industrialist Ramesh Kapoor has been fundraising for the Democratic Party since 1988. "I think the time is right for him to pass the torch," Mr. Kapoor told the BBC. “I know he has passion but you can't fight nature”.

Two Democrats in Congress also called for a change in the party's nomination. Arizona's Raul Grijalva recently told the New York Times that it's time for Democrats to look the other way. Despite this, the White House and the Biden campaign rejected these reports, saying that he is determined to defeat Trump for a second term on November 5.

The New York Times and CNN said Wednesday, without citing sources, that Mr. Biden told an ally that he was reviewing whether to stay in the race. Both reports said he told aides he was aware his re-election was in jeopardy and that the rally in Wisconsin and the interview with ABC News were important to him.

A spokesperson, however, dismissed the reports as 'completely false'. After the White House Press Secretary Karin Jean-Pierre Mr. in the election. He faced many questions about Biden's stay. He says the news is not true. “We asked the president...he responded directly and said 'no', that's completely false. This is straight from him”.

A Washington Post report said that Mr. Biden and his team are acknowledging that Biden will have to prove his fitness in the coming days. He will visit Wisconsin and Philadelphia later this week.

Then they took part in a party campaign on the phone where mr. Biden has made it clear that he is in the fight, and Ms. Harris has also reiterated her support. “I am the nominee of the Democrat Party. No one can kick me out. I'm not leaving," a source told BBC News.

A few hours later a fundraising e-mail made the same statement. I want to say plainly and simply that I am fighting," he said in an e-mail, adding "I will be in this race until the end".

After the debate with Trump, questions swirled about whether the 81-year-old Biden would continue to campaign. Repeatedly lost in debates, his voice was weak and some of his answers were difficult to understand. This raises questions within the party about his fitness to serve as president and his ability to win elections.

Then, as opinion polls showed him widening his gap with his Republican challenger, pressure mounted on him to drop out of the race. A New York Times poll after the debate showed Trump now leading by six points, the largest margin ever. The results of the public opinion poll were released on Wednesday.

Another poll by CBS, the BBC's US partner, shows Trump ahead of Biden by three points in contested states. According to that survey, the former president is ahead nationally. Public calls by some Democratic Party donors and lawmakers for the president to step down have hurt the election.

Massachusetts-based Indian-American industrialist Ramesh Kapoor has been fundraising for the Democratic Party since 1988. "I think the time is right for him to pass the torch," Mr. Kapoor told the BBC. “I know he has passion but you can't fight nature”.

Two Democrats in Congress also called for a change in the party's nomination. Arizona's Raul Grijalva recently told the New York Times that it's time for Democrats to look the other way. Despite this, the White House and the Biden campaign rejected these reports, saying that he is determined to defeat Trump for a second term on November 5.

The New York Times and CNN said Wednesday, without citing sources, that Mr. Biden told an ally that he was reviewing whether to stay in the race. Both reports said he told aides he was aware his re-election was in jeopardy and that the rally in Wisconsin and the interview with ABC News were important to him.

A spokesperson, however, dismissed the reports as 'completely false'. After the White House Press Secretary Karin Jean-Pierre Mr. in the election. He faced many questions about Biden's stay. He says the news is not true. “We asked the president...he responded directly and said 'no', that's completely false. This is straight from him”.

A Washington Post report said that Mr. Biden and his team are acknowledging that Biden will have to prove his fitness in the coming days. He will visit Wisconsin and Philadelphia later this week.