More voices are being raised to suggest that Joe Biden should step aside and let someone else run against Donald Trump in the autumn's presidential election.
But Biden is standing firm in his decision not to withdraw – and the Democratic governors are backing him.
The US President has been under pressure since the disastrous debate performance against Trump last week. Several opinion polls show Trump in the lead and the media is reporting that there is panic within the Democrats.
Raúl Grijalva became the second Democratic congressman to call on Biden to step aside on Wednesday.
"Must take responsibility"
If he is the (Democratic) candidate, I will support him, but I think this is an opportunity to look elsewhere, says Grijalva in an interview with New York Times and adds:
What he needs to do is take responsibility for holding onto the presidency, and part of that responsibility is to step aside in the battle for the election.
Even Netflix founder Reed Hastings, who has become one of the Democrats' largest donors in recent years, is calling on Biden to withdraw.
"Biden must step aside to make way for a powerful Democratic leader who can beat Trump and keep us safe and prosperous", he writes in an email to NYT.
Hastings and his wife Patty Quillin have donated over 20 million dollars to the party.
Biden: Not withdrawing
Beyond the calls to step aside, there have also been reports that the President himself has told a "close ally" that it is possible that he cannot save his nomination as the Democratic presidential candidate. But both the White House and Biden himself deny this.
No one is pushing me out. I'm not withdrawing. I'm in this fight to the end and we're going to win, said Biden during a video meeting with campaign staff on Wednesday, reports Politico.
On Wednesday evening, Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris met with more than 20 Democratic governors – and managed to win their support.
President Joe Biden is running in the election to win it, and we all promised to support him, says New York Governor Kathy Hochul after the meeting, according to NYT.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz admits that the debate performance was poor, but emphasizes that he still has confidence in Biden as President.
