Democrats creating path for Biden to make 'dignified' exit as they can't 'drag him off stage'
President Joe Biden went head-to-head with Donald Trump in the presidential debate
REUTERS
Democrats are creating a path for President Joe Biden to make a “dignified” exit from his White House race against Donald Trump.
Biden, 81, had a torrid time against Trump, 78, last week as the pair locked horns in the first debate ahead of polls opening on November 5.
Members of the Biden family gathered at the President’s country retreat Camp David to discuss his future in the Oval Office.
A Democrat official claimed the 46th President could not be “dragged off stage”.
President Joe Biden went head-to-head with Donald Trump in the presidential debate
REUTERSBiden’s family and closest allies have instead being urged to help convince Biden to “walk off” on his own terms.
A Democrat source told Axios: “This is not about him submitting to the will of others yelling at him that he failed.
“Joe Biden is too proud for that argument. He will not be dragged off the stage.
“The goal is to let him walk off the stage… He got rid of Trump; helped prepare America through his legislation for the future; and, under his tenure, a generation of new Democrats have emerged.”
Biden's relatives are said to have urged him to stay in the race when they met on Sunday
REUTERS
However, his relatives are said to have urged him to stay in the race when they met on Sunday and instead slammed aides for failing to prepare him for the head-to-head.
Hunter Biden is among his family members most keen to take on Trump.
A Biden campaign insider downplayed the significance of the meeting on Sunday, labelling the gathering as “informal or an afterthought”.
But Biden previously said he would not run a campaign without the support of his family.
Polling suggests Biden trails Trump in a head-to-head contest by three per cent
REUTERS
Speaking in 2019, the 46th President said: “We do everything by family meetings.”
Biden, who positioned himself as the only Democrat capable of defeating Trump in 2020, sent an email to supporters over the weekend reiterating the message.
Polling suggests Biden trails Trump in a head-to-head contest by three per cent.
Biden has a mountain to climb to defeat Trump, with his Republican rival still being able to forge a path to the White House if he fails to win the popular vote.
California Governor Gavin Newson, seen as his potential successor alongside Vice President Kamala Harris, trailed Trump by the same margin.
Donald Trump and Joe Biden locked horns in Atlanta
REUTERS
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s deficit was just two points against the 45th President.
Biden would become the first President since Lyndon B Johnson not to seek a second-term in the Oval Office if he opted to step aside.
Speaking at a rally in North Carolina following his debate with Trump, Biden appeared to concede it was not his finest performance.
He said: “I intend to win this election. When you get knocked down, you get back up.”
However, a snap poll following the debate in Georgia showed Trump won by a margin of 66 per cent to 33 per cent.
Trump and Biden are next expected to lock horns on ABC News on September 10.