Obama expressed concern to allies over Biden's candidacy, report says

Former president has been a strong ally of Joe Biden throughout his campaign

Barack Obama and Joe Biden at the White House in November 2016. AFP

Former US president Barack Obama has told allies that Joe Biden's path to victory has greatly diminished and that the President needs to consider the viability of his candidacy, The Washington Post reported on Thursday.

It is the latest of mounting reports, quoting unidentified sources, indicating that Democratic support for Mr Biden's candidacy is crumbling after a disastrous Atlanta debate.

Mr Biden served as vice president to Mr Obama, who initially voiced support for the President after the June debate against Republican Donald Trump.

During the debate, Mr Biden appeared frail and hoarse, and often failed to finish his sentences – none of which helped to convince his fellow Democrats that he was up to the task of taking on Mr Trump.

Mr Obama has spoken to Mr Biden only once since the debate, The Washington Post reported, and in conversations with others, he has been clear that the future of Mr Biden's candidacy is a decision only the President can make.

The Post also reported that Nancy Pelosi, the former speaker of the House of Representatives, had told some Democrats she believed Mr Biden could be convinced fairly soon to exit the race.

Meanwhile, The New York Times reported that several people close to Mr Biden believe he has begun to accept the idea that he may not be able to win in November and may have to drop out of the race.

Almost 20 members of Congress and several high-profile Democrats urged him to end his race to stay in the White House.

The news comes after Mr Biden began isolation after being diagnosed with Covid-19, cancelling campaign appearances and retreating to his family home in Delaware.

Polling this week from FiveThirtyEight showed he is trailing behind his Republican opponent by four points, 42-46.

The poll also shows that Vice President Kamala Harris, who many Democrats have promoted as a replacement for Mr Biden on the ticket, is “tied” with Mr Trump, at 44-44.

Several Democrats told Axios that congressional leaders and close friends will try to persuade Mr Biden to end his campaign as soon as this weekend.

ABC News reported this week that Democrats close to the campaign have said Mr Biden “is going to see the whole house of cards come down soon”.

Mr Biden is reportedly being told that if he continues the race, Mr Trump could secure a landslide win in November and wipe away the President's legacy.

This week, Congressman Adam Schiff became one of the highest-profile Democrats to call on the President to step down from his candidacy in the November elections.

In a statement, he voiced “serious concerns about whether the President can defeat Donald Trump in November”, adding: “I believe it is time for him to pass the torch.”

And a letter from Representative Jamie Raskin, dated July 6, said: "Everything we believe in is on the line in the next four and a half months."

"We have an overriding obligation to defeat the forces of resurgent monarchy and oppression," Mr Raskin wrote, adding that there was "no shame" in bowing out.

Growing concerns about the Democratic ticket also come as Mr Trump on Thursday prepared to speak during the Republican National Convention.

His speech follows an assassination attempt during a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday, which left one person and the gunman dead.