Joe Biden’s re-election campaign is becoming increasingly complicated and the White House is experiencing crucial hours: voices from Democratic Party members asking him to step down are growing; new versions of his “cognitive” episodes are emerging, and some media outlets even suggest that the president himself acknowledged that his campaign could become unviable.
To add to Biden's tumultuous moment, a survey by the New York Times and Siena College conducted after last week's debate showed that Donald Trump's lead increased by three points. Now, 49% say they would vote for the Republican candidate, while only 43% would vote for the current president.
What does this survey mean for Joe Biden?
This is the largest margin in favor of Trump since 2015 and is even larger among registered voters: 49% to 41%.
Questions about the age, mental health, and sharpness of the current 81-year-old president increased after his poor performance in last Thursday's CNN debate, where he appeared erratic and with some gaps, especially in the first part.
Now 74% consider Biden "too old to govern," five points higher than the last survey.
In response to the question of whether Joe Biden should continue as a candidate, the option of seeking a different alternative grew from 45% to 47% among Democrats although it did not change among independents.
The survey was conducted among 1,532 registered voters, between June 28 (the day after the debate) and July 2. The questions were asked live, both in English and Spanish.
Interview that could be key
In the last few hours, Biden has tried to calm the alarms raised within the Democratic Party, by insisting that he will continue in the race "until the end," but his efforts have not been enough in the face of a question that is becoming increasingly repetitive: "when will he drop out of the race?".
This Friday, Biden is planning to give an interview to ABC News, marking the first time he will face journalistic questions since the debate, as he has refused to answer any questions off-script since then. His performance and delivery will be crucial for the continuity of his campaign.