Welcome to the U.S. politics live blog where a blistering new poll for President Joe Biden shows him slipping behind Trump in nearly every battleground state.
And a new Democrat frontrunner replacement for Biden has emerged – Michelle Obama, the former First Lady of the United States, currently polls with a massive 50-39 lead over former President Trump.
The Democratic revolt in the House is starting as three sitting lawmakers shocked the party by either telling Biden to drop out or stating he’s already lost the election to Donald Trump. And Biden will meet with Democrat governors later today at the White House to try and reassure them.
Follow along for live coverage from DailyMail.com’s political team:
14:59
Breaking:Joe Biden told key ally he is considering if he should drop out
By Katelyn Caralle, Senior U.S. Political Reporter
President Joe Biden told a close ally that he doesn’t think he can salvage his campaign after his train wreck debate with Donald Trump last week.
It is the first real sign that the president is considering dropping out of the race amid calls for a new candidate.
The deciding factor, a key ally told The New York Times, could be Biden’s campaign stops in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin this weekend. They said of the president’s thinking:
He knows if he has two more events like that, we’re in a different place.
14:25
Inside growing turmoil as Biden team struggles to calm post-debate storm
Emily Goodin, senior U.S. political reporter
The White House is struggling to calm the storm of outrage from Joe Biden’s debate performance as Democratic lawmakers call for the president to exit the race and the White House staff are ‘freaking the f*** out.’
White House chief of staff Jeff Zients is scheduled to hold an all-hands-on-deck staff call at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday to pump up disillusioned staff and reassure them that Biden will remain the nominee.
The president has been on the phone to lawmakers trying to shore up his support on Capitol Hill amid worries Republicans will take control of the House and Senate – along with the White House – in the upcoming elections, giving them unchecked power to run the country.
Biden also will meet with governors on Wednesday evening as he and his team scramble to stem even more defections.
Meanwhile, Jill Biden has been dispatched to the battleground states of Pennsylvania and Michigan to tout Biden’s accomplishments in the White House as polls show him trailing Donald Trump.
14:02
Group of business executives is latest to demand Biden step aside
By Katelyn Caralle, Senior U.S. Political Reporter
Now a group of business leaders are calling for Joe Biden to step down for a replacement Democratic nominee.
Leadership Now Project is the latest entity expressing it wants to see a different candidate on the ticket in 2024 other than the incumbent president after his disastrous debate performance.
The group wrote in a statement responding to the debate:
We have heard from many individuals who share our deep concerns about the present course but fear speaking out.
13:55
Biden campaign seeks to calm its staff's fears
President Joe Biden’s campaign sent out an all-staff memo showing internal polls from battleground states that note Biden only dropped half a point in the fallout from his debate performance.
The memo acknowledges fears that Biden will see a substantial drop in the polls after his fumbling in the debate.
‘We are going to see a few polls come out today and we want you all to hear from us on what we know internally and what we expect to come externally,’ the memo, obtained by Politico, reads.
‘Polls are a snapshot in time and we should all expect them to continue to fluctuate — it will take a few weeks, not a few days, to get a full picture of the race.’
The Five Thirty Eight polling average has Donald Trump leading Biden nationally by two points. The former president also leads in many of the swing states that will decide the election.
13:05
How dropping Biden from Democratic ticket could cost his replacement millions – with one exception
Biden has thus far rejected the pressure, insisting he could still beat Trump come November, but should the 81-year-old change course and bow out of the race, there are a series of hurdles other Democratic candidates could face.
One of the biggest challenges: how to raise a massive sum of cash to take on Trump in a short amount of time. Biden’s massive campaign war chest would not necessarily flow to a replacement for the president at the top of the ticket.
And that is a considerable amount of money they could be leaving on the table.
12:22
Biden to award Medal of Honor to two Union soldiers
Emily Goodin, senior U.S. political reporter
President Joe Biden on Wednesday will award the Medal of Honor to two Union soldiers who stole a train deep in Confederate territory during the Civil War in what is known as Great Locomotive Chase.
U.S. Army Pvts. Philip G. Shadrach and George D. Wilson were part of a group of soldiers who hijacked a train named The General, drive it north for 87 miles, destroying railroad tracks and telegraph lines along the way.
They were captured by Confederates and executed by hanging. Six of the participants became the Army´s first recipients of the then-newly created Medal of Honor. Over the next two decades, another 13 members were recognized for their role in mission but Shadrach and Wilson were not honored until now.
Their posthumous recognition comes as the legacy of the Civil War still shapes American politics in a contentious election year where race, constitutional rights and presidential power are a major issue.
The ceremony will take place in the East Room of the White House Wednesday afternoon.
12:09
Joe Biden's felon son Hunter is joining White House meetings and official calls with top aides in the aftermath of his dad's disastrous debate performance
Hunter Biden has joined White House meetings this week after spending the weekend at Camp David with his dad on the heels of President Joe Biden’s disastrous debate performance.
NBC News reported Tuesday on Hunter’s presence on calls and in meetings on the White House campus as the 81-year-old president’s political future hangs in the balance.
Hunter was convicted last month on felony gun charges and is still under indictment for tax crimes though ‘popped into’ a couple of meetings, one source said.
11:48
The White House is a 'mess' as staff freak out after Biden debate disaster
There’s growing uproar within the White House over President Joe Biden’s shockingly feeble debate.
It’s now becoming a full-blown party revolt as two sitting Democrats are bucking Biden and saying they want another candidate on the top of the ticket, with a third saying he can’t win.
The president will try and reassure Democratic governors at the White House Wednesday as an all-staff White House meeting is set to occur at 12:30 p.m. ET.
Aides told Axios: ‘Everyone is freaking the f*** out.’
11:47
REVEALED: The only Democrat who could beat Trump
A top pollster says there’s only one Democrat who can beat Trump but not only have they never held office, they haven't even campaigned for Joe Biden yet this election season.
While other former Democrats and liberal pundits have speculated on Biden’s ability to hold the presidency through 2028, should he win, two elected members of the party’s Congressional delegation have called on him to drop out Tuesday.
Maine Democratic Rep. Jared Golden, 41, is now saying that he expects Trump to win after Biden’s terrible debate performance while Lloyd Doggett of Texas, 77, he’s actually ‘OK’ if Donald Trump wins in November.
Now, pollster Ipsos tested several elected an unelected Democrats head-to-head with Biden and only one would beat him, according to their survey.
11:44
New poll shows Trump pulling ahead in critical battleground states in more dire signs for Biden
A new CBS poll released Wednesday shows ex-President Donald Trump is up three points over President Biden across all battleground states nationwide, 48% to 51%.
He also has a two-point lead over the president in a national head-to-head matchup.
In another warning siren for Biden, the poll also showed a massive enthusiasm gap between the two candidates.
Democrats are not as likely to ‘definitely’ vote in November compared to Republicans.
11:40
Biden faces mutiny as 25 Democrats prepare to call for president to step aside
At least 25 Democrat members of Congress are set to call on Joe Biden to drop out of the presidential race in the coming days, while a pair of Senators have distanced themselves from the ailing president.
The Democratic revolt in the House was expected to take place if Biden ‘seems shaky in coming days’ as one Democrat aide warned: ‘the dam is broken.’
In the Senate, it was revealed that centrist Joe Manchin needed to be pulled back from the brink as he prepared to become the first Biden ally to call for him to quit on one of the Sunday news shows.
‘Nobody wants to be the first one to knife Julius Caesar,’ a party insider said about Manchin’s predicament.
TOP STORIES
- Here's how Democrats COULD get Michelle Obama on the ballot as she emerges as poll frontrunner to replace Biden
- Biden faces mutiny as 25 Democrats prepare to call for ailing president, 81, to step aside after disastrous debate against Trump – as one warns 'the dam has broken'
- Biden admits he 'almost fell asleep on stage' as he makes laughable excuse for his disastrous debate against Trump
- Hollywood plastic surgeon reveals Trump and Biden's secret cosmetic procedures over the years – and which candidate is aging more 'naturally'
- REVEALED: The only Democrat who could beat Trump – and they have not campaigned for Biden – as calls grow for president, 81, to drop out of race
- Orange Is The New Black star Lea DeLaria is accused of 'domestic terrorism' for unhinged anti-Trump rant calling for him to be blown up
- Biden under siege as the THIRD elected Democrat turns on him and issues grim warning after 'very painful' debate against Trump: 'The damage has been done'
- Inside growing turmoil at the White House as leadership tries to get handle on staff who are 'freaking the f*** out' after Biden mishaps
- ANOTHER elected Democrat turns on Biden saying he's 'OK' with Trump winning
- Trump calls Biden a 'threat to democracy' and a 'nightmare for women' and rages at Joe's campaign for saying he might SKIP the debate just hours before CNN showdown
- Why Michelle Obama hasn't campaigned for Biden and has been 'frustrated' with his family over messy drama that resurfaced during Hunter's trial
- Sirens blare for Biden's campaign as Trump inches ahead in state GOP hasn't won in 24 years
- Donald Trump raised $331million in the second quarter – more than Biden's $264million heaping even more pressure on president after car-crash TV debate performance
- Could Kamala become president? As calls for Biden to step aside swirl after debate calamity, Democratic insiders hint that Harris could be even WORSE
- Biden faces the ultimate test of cognitive fitness with 90 minutes of no help, a pencil and just a bottle of water
- Rapper Waka Flocka Flame kicks Biden supporters out of concert: 'We're gonna party right now for T24'
- Gavin Newsom shoots down 'farcical' idea that he could replace Joe Biden on the 2024 Democrat ticket saying it's 'distressing' to even discuss
- Biden's plan is to keep federal workers working from home and 'happy at all costs' so they'll vote for him says James Comer: 'It's all crap'
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- I invented America's gold-standard cognitive test. This is why I'm calling on Biden to take it and make his results public
- Biden's family tells him to 'keep fighting' during crisis talks at Camp David as son Hunter emerges as a key advisor after debate debacle against Trump sparked calls for him to drop out of presidential race
- Who could replace Biden as the Democratic presidential candidate? From Michelle Obama to Gavin Newsom – what are the odds and what do the polls say
- Biden donor reveals the 'grifting' advisors he blames for the president's debate disaster and calls for them to be sacked for 'political malpractice' as Democrats begin to implode
- Joe Biden's felon son Hunter is joining White House meetings and official calls with top aides in the aftermath of his dad's disastrous debate performance
- Rachel Maddow urges dithering Democrats to act now if they want to drop Biden
- In the Democrat race to replace Biden, Shark Tank's KEVIN O'LEARY warns: One high-tax, hard-left, job-killing lunatic would make Joe seem economically literate… and turn America into Venezuela!
- TIM HOWARD: I will fly to Spain myself and talk Jurgen Klopp into coaching the USMNT… but this golden generation is to blame for Copa America calamity
- FDA BANS potentially harmful ingredient found in sodas loved by millions
- Mom who sent daughters, 11 and 13, to seven-week sleepaway camp hits out at critics after being slammed online
- First sitting Democrat calls for Biden to QUIT the 2024 race after debate disaster
- White House photographer blows whistle on Biden's cognitive health as he reveals aides knew for MONTHS he was not fit for office
- How dropping Biden from Democratic ticket could cost his replacement as much as $240 MILLION with one exception
- Supreme Court says obstruction charges for January 6 rioters could be thrown out…here's how it will impact Trump's election interference case
- Millionaire televangelist Joel Osteen is roasted over tweet to his followers about the 'simple things' in life
- Televangelist Joel Osteen speaks out after being slammed for 'simple life' tweet
- From guiding her meandering husband down stairs to congratulating him for 'answering all the questions': How stubborn Jill's treatment of Joe shows she holds the power in the race… and admits the debate was bad
- Orange Is The New Black star accused of 'domestic terrorism'
- Travis Barker reveals he and Kourtney Kardashian were 'workout buddies' before becoming romantic: 'It was what started it all'
- Freedom Caucus leader Bob Good officially ousted from Congress in spectacular blow by Trump-backed John McGuire
- Karine Jean-Pierre's awkward essay about working for tragically 'doomed' presidential campaigns resurfaces in the wake of Biden's train wreck debate
- Labour 'virtually certain' to win a bigger majority than Tony Blair's in 1997 as new mega-poll shows party winning 484 seats with Tories reduced to 64 MPs… but there are signs Rishi's warnings about 'unchecked' power for Starmer are having an impact
- Pictured: British businessman, 44, found dead floating in the sea with head injuries off Greek holiday island after getting separated from friends during night out
- I had sepsis and had to pull out of dream Barbados holiday – but Allianz won't pay up £7,500: SALLY SORTS IT
- How Lucy Letby's parents who turned up to watch their only daughter every day during her first trial stayed away as she was found guilty of trying to kill another newborn baby
- Alice Evans and Ioan Gruffudd's bitter divorce takes ANOTHER messy twist as she accuses him of leaving her so poor she can't 'afford to feed their children' and has to go on food stamps – while he 'buys Rolexes and diamonds'
- Furious victims of HMP Wandsworth inmate 'filmed having sex with female prison guard' slam reports he WON'T face police investigation over his actions as they claim 'This is not what we thought it meant to get hard time in prison'
- Mother of freed hostage Noa Argamani dies of brain cancer after spending her final days with her daughter, who she feared she would not live long enough to see again
- Britain's 20 WFH hotspots: Too far to commute every day, these beautiful villages boast super-fast connections, great pubs and a country lifestyle… all for MUCH less than the big city
- How to get rid of your student loan: Never earn above 25k, move abroad… or become a teacher – all the loopholes and surprising tips and tricks to clear your debt
- Major development in hunt for Jay Slater as police search Tenerife Airbnb: Officers spend two hours inside holiday let where missing teen stayed with two mystery men before disappearing two weeks ago
- 'I said: “Yes, it's my son. She's killed my son”.' Our nine-month-old baby was shaken to death by a childminder who lied about her qualifications, claimed disability benefits and had far too many children in her care
- Man United pay§ tribute to former Busby Babe member Jeff Whitefoot after death aged 90… as Nottingham Forest hail FA Cup winning hero
- Queen Camilla and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh sport matching powder blue ensembles as they join King Charles and Prince Edward for Sovereign's Garden Party at Palace of Holyroodhouse
- Rishi's secret weapon! Boris Johnson makes surprise appearance to reunite with Rishi Sunak to stop Starmergeddon in massive Conservative boost
- QUENTIN LETTS: Finally! Some wit-laced acidity to cut through the grease and make clear the ghastliness of Starmerism
- Tributes paid to 'superhero' father and police officer, 36, who died after being hit by a VW Golf while riding his motorbike home from a night shift
- Jay Slater 'admitted to friends he stole £12,000 Rolex and was trying to sell it' hours before he vanished: Investigator reveals dramatic new revelation in missing teenager probe
- First picture of Briton who booked £40-a-night Airbnb where missing teen Jay Slater stayed hours before he vanished – as his mother pleads, 'We just want to find our beautiful boy'
- MAUREEN CALLAHAN: Bad Doctor Jill Biden doesn't give a damn about America – or her husband. She'll humiliate him till he can take no more… because she knows what will become of her next
- Messy teenager, 19, is accused of strangling college administrator mother, 43, to death after she served him eviction notice for refusing to get a job or clean his room
- Democrats hope Gavin Newsom can replace Biden – but do they know about the sleazy California Governor's infidelities, addiction, TEENAGE lover… and why allies say he 'doesn't have real friends'?
- Delta Airlines makes emergency landing at JFK with medics on standby after dozens of passengers fall ill after being served spoiled food during flight from Detroit to Amsterdam
- Shots fired! Clint Eastwood's daughter calls her just-married pregnant sibling Morgan 'my evil stepsister' who is 'weird and fake' in social media outburst
- Fit and healthy Aussie TikTok boss Govind Sandhu reveals the three red flags that exposed stage-four cancer 'running wild' through his body even as he ran gruelling half-marathons – and how you can protect yourself
- Wife, 69, is killed in front of her horrified husband after armed robbers attack them at upmarket Newport Beach mall before she is dragged into a parking lot and run over by suspect's white Toyota
- It's a real love Tory! Boris Johnson makes triumphant return to Conservative front line to 'answer Rishi's call' cheered on by party faithful before taking aim at Starmer and Farage
- Listeria fears sparks nationwide recall for five popular dog and cat food products – is your pet's favorite on the list?
- Labour have been predicted to win a landslide, but the reality is just 132,000 voters in key seats could stop this. Use our tactical voting guide to prevent Britain under Starmer becoming a… ONE-PARTY STATE
- Mother who locked adopted 14-year-old son in 8-foot-by-8-foot box for hours as punishment cries dry tears as she learns her fate – and makes astonishing claim
- Owners of Peak District pub urge 'dine-and-dashers' who tucked into £27 steaks and guzzled real ale to return and settle their £150 bill
- Young woman Manpreet Kaur dies on plane after catching Qantas flight from to visit family in India
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- Striking face tattooed 'Deadpool killer' Wade Wilson, who murdered two women, sets TikTok ablaze with mysterious hand signal flash as he's sentenced to death
- England's WAG arrive on SIX private jets: Dani Dyer, Megan Pickford, Aine May Kennedy and Lauren Fryer touch down at Erfurt-Weimar Airport as they head to Three Lions training base to spend day with the players before quarter final
- Teenage girl, 17, dies after 'being spiked' at Dreamland drum and bass festival – as her 'broken' family pay tribute to the 'kindest person you could ever meet'
- Horrified husband discovers his wife has been EATEN by python after spotting the creature's 'huge belly'… and the victim's slippers nearby
- Fears for Molly the magpie after 'owners' makes ominous post
- France is heading for 'Frexit in disguise' if National Rally or the far-left see success in Sunday's elections, Macron's allies fear
- Tom Frith dies after helicopter crash while fighting wildfires in Canada
- 'French Excalibur' vanishes from rock it had been stuck in the past 1,300 years as police launch investigation
- Wife shoots dead her husband and their eight-year-old son before turning gun on herself