A ex-aide to former US President Barack Obama says current President Joe Biden's path to re-election is "just getting tougher and tougher" as Obama has privately echoed concerns over the incumbent's candidacy.
Biden has publicly maintained that he will continue his bid for the presidency – but a number of senior Democrats have called for him to withdraw his candidacy and, behind the scenes, more of the party's senior figures have expressed concern.
Calls for an end to Biden's run were fuelled by worries over his age, and escalated after a disastrous debate performance last month.
Peter Loge served as a senior adviser to Obama during his administration. Obama has reportedly told allies – in private – that Biden should consider his future, questioning his ability to beat Republican nominee Donald Trump.
"It is significant," Loge told Breakfast this morning. "President Obama and President Biden are close, and President Obama is pointing out what all the rest of us can see in the polling, right? It's just getting tougher and tougher."
Pressure on the US President to let someone else take the Democrat ticket to the election. (Source: Breakfast)
Loge said he believed Vice President Kamala Harris could win if she was nominated as the party's candidate – but he also said that he believed Biden still "has a pathway to victory".
"Harris would shake up the race. The polls have been pretty flat, pretty consistent over time through indictments and scandals and bad debates, not a lot has changed," Loge continued. "Harris could mix it up a little bit, bring something new to the race.
"On the other hand, a lot of her support I think might be because she's not named Joe Biden."
He said the scrutiny on Harris would ramp up if she was actually chosen as nominee.
"[Then] they might not like what they see as much. They might, but, you don't know."
Loge acknowledged that the Democrats have had a "bad few weeks" – but "it's still only July", he stressed.
American voters don't head to the polls until November.
"It's not over," Loge said. "It's not looking great but it's not over — by a long shot."
Meanwhile, as the Democrats clashed internally over who to choose, the Republican Party was working to present a united front. Former opponents have rallied behind Trump, who was confirmed as his party's nominee this week.
Asked about the contrast, Loge admitted: "It looks pretty bad.
"The Republicans were infighting and arguing with each other about a year ago, and came together as a strong force this past week.
"The Democrats are the reverse. Not great timing on the Democrats' part."
He said the Republicans were telling a "pretty compelling story" while the Democrats "are having trouble telling that story" – and instead, "they're telling the American people that their guy isn't up to the task".
"Only President Biden knows what's in his head," Loge added. "It's like an ageing athlete.
"Nobody who's famous and at the top of the game wants to step out."
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