Democratic donors have expressed concern, with some discussing the possibility of nominating a Democratic candidate to replace the president.
U.S. President Joe Biden is seeking to reassure donors after his performance in the first presidential debate with Republican front-runner Donald Trump rattled Democrats and raised serious doubts about his own re-election prospects.
The president has been appearing at fundraising events to acknowledge the concerns and promise he has no plans to abandon his campaign to lead the White House for the next four years.
“It wasn't a great night, but we're going to fight harder,” Biden told attendees of a fundraiser at New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy's home on Saturday.
“Donald Trump is a real threat to the nation,” he said, adding that if re-elected, the former president would pose a threat to democracy and the U.S. economy.
Biden and his wife, Jill, had earlier attended a campaign event in the affluent New York area of East Hampton to raise more funds.
The event, which was closed to the press, took place at the home of Tampa Bay Buccaneers owner Avram Glazer, according to public records.
The couple then attended a second event at the East Hampton home of investor Barry Rosenstein, where Rosenstein's wife, Lizanne, praised the president and defended his record over the past four years in comparison to that of President Trump.
Biden made it a point to focus the spotlight on Trump, harshly criticizing his record as president and saying Trump performed poorly in Thursday night's debate.
The Biden campaign said it raised more than $27 million on Thursday and Friday, including $3 million at a fundraiser in New York City focused on the LGBTQ community.
Democratic donors have expressed deep concerns about the validity of Biden's reelection campaign following his debate performance and are also weighing possible successor candidates.
So far, the short list of potential replacements includes Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, California Governor Gavin Newsom and Vice President Kamala Harris, all of whom have endorsed Biden.
But there have been no formal moves so far to call for the president to step down, and such a move is unlikely given the huge logistical costs and reputational damage that would be involved in replacing the presumptive candidate with just four months to go.
“I may not walk as easily as I used to, I may not talk as smoothly as I used to, I may not debate as well as I used to,” Biden said at a campaign event on Friday, “but what I do know is how to tell the truth.”
