Joe Biden is facing an election crisis, as a new poll has put Donald Trump ahead in five out of six key swing states.
Meanwhile, a senior aide to former President Obama, David Axelrod, suggested Biden should quit the race in the interests of the country.
A poll conducted by the New York Times and Siena College - published Sunday - found Biden falling behind Trump in five out of six key swing states including Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada and Pennsylvania.
He was trailing behind Trump with margins of between 3 to 10 percentage points among registered voters.
In Wisconsin, Biden was ahead by just two points.
Axelrod - who led Obama's winning election campaign - said the poll will "send tremors of doubt through the party", arguing that such concern was "not bed-wetting, but legitimate concern".
Suggesting Biden should reconsider his plans to run, the adviser said the President "needs to decide" whether it is "wise" to run, and whether or not it is in the country's "interest".
Taking to X in the wake of the poll, Axelrod said: "It's very late to change horses; a lot will happen in the next year that no one can predict & Biden's team says his resolve to run is firm.
"He's defied CW before but this will send tremors of doubt thru the party--not 'bed-wetting', but legitimate concern.
"Yes, there also is risk associated with changing course now, as there is little time left for a primary campaign--and campaigns are how we test candidates.
"But there is a lot of leadership talent in the Democratic Party, poised to emerge."
He added: "Only Joe Biden can make this decision.
"If he continues to run, he will be the nominee of the Democratic Party.
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Suggesting Biden should reconsider his plans to run, Axelrod said the President "needs to decide" whether it is "wise" to run
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"What he needs to decide is whether that is wise; whether it's in HIS best interest or the country's?"
The poll spoke to 3,662 registered voters in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. It was conducted between October 22 and November 3.
