WASHINGTON: US President Joe Biden has begun to come to terms with the idea that he might not be able to win the November 5 election and may have to drop out of the race, the New York Times reported on Thursday, citing several people close to the president.
But one of the people close to the president cautioned that the president has not yet decided to drop out of the race after three weeks of insisting that almost nothing would get him out.
Another said “reality is setting in” and it would not be a surprise if Biden soon made an announcement endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris as his replacement.
According to the publication, this account is based on interviews with four people close to the president, who described the situation as extremely delicate and spoke on condition of anonymity so as not to offend the president.
After testing positive for Covid-19, Biden remained in isolation at his vacation home in Rehoboth Beach.
Biden's candidacy is on a knife-edge with a growing list of senior Democrats calling for him to step aside, while concerns about his age and health are raising fears he is on track to lose badly to Donald Trump in November.
As rival Trump prepares for his headlining performance at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee later Thursday, Biden finds himself in both personal and political isolation.
His personal physician, Kevin O'Connor, said Thursday that Biden was still experiencing mild Covid symptoms and was taking the drug Paxlovid, but that his vital signs remained normal.
“He will continue to lead the affairs of the American people,” O'Connor said in a letter released by the White House.
His Covid diagnosis came at the worst possible time for his campaign, forcing him to cut short a trip to Las Vegas and isolate himself at his vacation home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.
Biden told reporters Wednesday he was “doing fine,” but then appeared frail as he slowly descended the stairs of Air Force One.
Calls for Biden to step aside have grown since his disastrous debate performance against Republican Trump three weeks ago, in which he appeared tired and confused.
A series of US media reports have suggested that time is running out in their bid to stop Trump from making a sensational return to the White House.
Top congressional Democrats Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries have reportedly met with Biden in recent days to warn that his candidacy threatens their party's prospects in the November election.
