President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign is facing significant challenges following his poor performance in a debate with former President Donald Trump. The fallout has intensified concerns within the Democratic Party about Biden’s health and ability to serve another term.

The crisis deepened on Tuesday when Texas Representative Lloyd Doggett became the first Democratic lawmaker to publicly suggest that Biden should step aside. This call for Biden to consider stepping down has led to more prominent party figures demanding transparency about his health and mental state.

Biden’s recent attempt to lighten the mood by joking about almost falling asleep on stage with Trump has backfired, further fueling concerns about his fitness for office. The debate’s aftermath has amplified fears about Biden’s age and mental acuity, exacerbated by his sometimes incoherent responses and long pauses during the debate.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre’s handling of the situation has done little to reassure the public. Despite attributing Biden’s debate performance to a cold, her explanations have not addressed why Biden appeared so diminished during the event. Emphasizing his past performance in office, Jean-Pierre insisted that Biden remains capable of serving another term. However, this failed to address the immediate concerns raised by his debate appearance.

Senior Democrats, including Vermont Senator Peter Welch and Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, have voiced the need for Biden to address these issues directly with the American people. Welch highlighted the intensification of concerns regarding Biden’s age, while Beshear called for more openness about Biden’s health and debate performance.

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also weighed in, acknowledging Biden’s achievements but suggesting it is fair to question whether his debate performance was an isolated incident or indicative of a broader issue.

The situation worsened early Tuesday when Illinois Representative Mike Quigley warned that Biden’s decision to stay in the race could have long-lasting repercussions for the party. Doggett’s call for Biden to step aside reflects a growing sentiment among House Democrats that Biden’s ability to win in 2024 is in jeopardy.

A CNN/SSRS poll showed that three-quarters of Americans believe Democrats would have a better chance of defeating Trump with a different candidate. Notably, even Vice President Kamala Harris polled better against Trump than Biden did.

Despite Biden’s insistence that he will remain in the race, some Democrats are contemplating what would happen if he stepped down. South Carolina Representative James Clyburn, a staunch Biden supporter, indicated his support for Harris if Biden decided to exit the race. Similarly, Senator Laphonza Butler endorsed Harris, praising her role as vice president.

Governor Beshear, who has been mentioned as a potential replacement nominee, praised Harris’s performance and expressed willingness to support her, despite her initially shaky adaptation to the role.

The CNN/SSRS poll revealed that Harris is nearly tied with Trump in a hypothetical matchup, trailing by only 2 percentage points. In contrast, Biden lagged 6 points behind Trump. Harris reiterated her loyalty to Biden, stating that they beat Trump once and will do so again.

In response to the growing concerns, Biden is set to grant an interview to George Stephanopoulos of ABC News on Friday. This interview will be a crucial test of his acuity and ability to reassure both the public and his party. Additionally, Biden will meet with Democratic governors, addressing demands for more direct communication with party leaders.

As Biden’s campaign navigates this turbulent period, the party must grapple with the critical question of whether he can convincingly lead the ticket in 2024, or if a new candidate should step forward to secure a victory against Trump.