Convincing Democrats and His Campaign Team, Joe Biden: I'm Running

President Biden. (Twitter/@WhiteHouse)

JAKARTA - Incumbent US President Joe Biden vowed to continue running for president in 2024, as he held a phone call with campaign staff and tried to convince top Democrats on Capitol Hill that he is worthy of re-election, despite his shaky debate performance last week.

President Biden called worried members of his campaign team and told them he was not going anywhere, according to two sources familiar with the call.

"I'm running," Biden said, adding that he remains the leader of the Democratic Party and will not be removed from the race against Republican Donald Trump, one source said, as reported by Reuters on July 4.

President Biden met with Democratic governors on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. local time, to reassure them he is ready for the task of being the party's standard-bearer after a shaky debate performance, when he mumbled under his breath, sometimes losing his train of thought. Several governors will attend virtually.

Asked on Wednesday if Biden was considering dropping out, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said: "Absolutely not."

Soon after he spoke, two national polls showed Biden’s chances against Trump, who spewed a series of lies during the debate, had deteriorated since the debate. A Wall Street Journal survey showed Trump leading Biden by 48 percent to 42 percent, up one percentage point, while a New York Times/Siena poll showed Trump’s lead over Biden had widened by three points to 49 percent to 43 percent.

Earlier, House Democrats met at 5 p.m. Wednesday on the issue, while Democratic Rep. Raul Grijalva of Arizona called for President Biden to drop out of the race.

Other Democrats concerned about Biden’s viability in November’s election will be watching the ABC News interview that is expected to air later this week.

A White House official said President Biden spoke with Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Tuesday and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer the day before.

He also spoke with Democratic Rep. Jim Clyburn on Wednesday. Clyburn, the Democratic Party’s kingmaker who played a key role in Biden’s 2020 victory, told CNN the party should hold a “mini-primary” if Biden drops out, the first senior party member to speak publicly about how replacing Biden as the nominee could work.

Clyburn, who said Tuesday he would endorse Vice President Kamala Harris as the presidential candidate if Biden drops out, added: “If she becomes the nominee, we need to have a strong running mate and a strong running mate. So all of this will give us an opportunity, not only to gauge who would be good at the top, but also who would be good in second place.”

Separately, a number of governors are potential rivals for Biden if pressure for him to step down, but many of them have also spoken out on Biden's behalf on the campaign trail.

Harris is the most likely replacement if Biden does step down, sources have told Reuters.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear have all been mentioned as potential replacements for Biden if he decides to step down as a 2024 candidate.