AFP, Washington DC

Joe Biden’s presidential reelection bid hung in the balance yesterday, after efforts to put a disastrous debate showing behind him failed to silence voices urging that he quit the White House race.

In what had been billed as a make-or-break TV interview on Friday, Biden’s strategy was to flatly deny the falling poll numbers and concerns over his mental and physical fitness triggered by his dismal performance against rival Donald Trump.

He blamed a severe cold for the debate debacle and insisted it was just a “bad night” rather than evidence of increasing frailty and cognitive decline.

And the 81-year-old was adamant that he would not be pressured to end his campaign.

Murmurs of dissent within his own Democratic party have, in the case of five individual House representatives, morphed into direct calls to quit, and a number of key donors have threatened to cut off funding if Biden insists on staying the course.

Biden’s campaign team is pushing ahead regardless, with an event planned in Pennsylvania today and visits to other battleground states later in the month.

For Biden and his campaign team, the strategy seems to be to ride it out.