Democrats are considering expediting formally nominating President Joe Biden as the party’s presidential nominee in an effort to stave off growing calls from within the party and the media for him to step down following last week’s disastrous debate.

Bloomberg News reported that the Democratic National Committee (DNC) is considering moving the formal nomination from August to July 21 when the convention’s committee meets virtually.

The move to expedite the 81-year-old’s formal nomination prior to the convention was expected so that Biden could appear on Ohio’s ballot, which has an August 7 deadline.

“It allows the party to further coalesce around their nominee even as insiders call for him to step aside for a new candidate after his rocky June 27 debate performance,” the report said. “In the days since the debate, Biden’s allies have struck a defiant tone, angrily dismissing calls for the oldest president in US history to end his reelection bid.”

Biden’s allies — who are often as old or older than he is — defended him on cable news shows over the weekend following his horrible showing at last week’s debate which resulted in establishment media organizations demanding that he resign.

Biden’s poll numbers have gone from bad to worse following the debate with most polls showing a 2-4 point move to former President Donald Trump.

Statistician Nate Silver said that Biden’s debate performance was starting to have a noticeable impact on his re-election chances as his win probability sank from 34.7% before the debate to just 27.6% now.

7/1 model update.

Debate beginning to take a real bite out of Biden. pic.twitter.com/lSESmUd4JZ

— Nate Silver (@NateSilver538) July 1, 2024