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US President Joe Biden calmed top Democrats and campaign workers after rumors claimed he was considering his departure following last week’s dismal debate with Donald Trump.

Mr. Biden had a closed-door lunch with Vice-President Kamala Harris at the White House as speculation rose that she will run as the party’s nominee in November.
Ms Harris repeated her support and Mr. Biden announced his continued run in a Democratic campaign call. I’m the Democratic nominee. Nobody’s evicting me, “I’m staying.”
The Biden-Harris campaign used that statement in a fundraising email hours later. “Let me say this as clearly and simply as I can: I’m running,” Mr. Biden wrote, adding that he was “in this race until the end”.
The debate with Trump, marred by linguistic gaps, a weak voice, and difficult-to-follow responses, has raised questions about whether the 81-year-old would continue his candidacy. It raised Democratic concerns about his fitness for office and electoral prospects.
As surveys show his Republican opponent’s advantage growing, pressure on Mr. Biden to get out has increased. Trump has his highest lead ever at six points, according to a Wednesday New York Times survey following the debate.
Some Democratic contributors and politicians have openly called for the president’s resignation, worsening the polls. Massachusetts-based Indian-American businessman Ramesh Kapur has organized Democratic fundraisers since 1988.

Despite this, the White House and Biden campaign have disputed allegations he is considering his future and believe he will beat Trump again on 5 November..
A spokesman called the accusations “absolutely false” before White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was grilled about Mr. Biden’s racial promise.
She denied rumors he will drop out: “The president directly denied the claim, stating that it is absolutely false. He said that.”
Chief of staff Jeff Zients advised White House officials to keep their “heads down” during a Wednesday conversation.
Complete tasks. He said “execute”.
We have plenty to be proud of, and under this President’s leadership, we can achieve more together.
Later Wednesday, Mr. Biden met 20 Democratic governors, including California’s Gavin Newsom and Michigan’s Gretchen Whitmer. Should Mr. Biden resign, both are considered replacements.
“The president has always had our backs; we’ll have his too,” Maryland Governor Wes Moore told reporters following the meeting.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul claimed the two dozen governors that met the president offered their support and that Mr. Biden said he was “in it to win it”.
However, Ms Harris remains the top candidate. The 59-year-old has low popularity ratings, but Democrats have supported her more since the Biden-Trump debate.