President Joe Biden has offered his clearest indication yet that he is seriously weighing whether to suspend his campaign for president, a revelation by the New York Times that is sure to prompt a fresh round of hysteria among Democrats who are growing increasingly afraid of a November wipeout.

With each day closing the window for Democrats to find an alternate presidential nominee, President Biden has told a key ally that he will soon be forced to decide whether he fully commits to completing his campaign or stepping aside so that another candidate may take his place. The ally, speaking on background with the Times, emphasized that much can change in the days ahead, including depending on how the 81-year-old president performs in an upcoming interview he is slated to do with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos. He will appear in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania for campaign stops this weekend, as well.

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“He knows if he has two more events like that, we’re in a different place” by the end of the weekend, the ally said in reference to Biden’s halting and shaky debate performance where he struggled to issue forceful rebukes of claims by former President Donald Trump. His vacant stare and gaping mouth launched a slew of memes in the days that followed and left his campaign on the defense as his team attempts to assure top donors and party leaders that he stands the best chance to defeat Trump.

Shortly after the Times article was published Wednesday morning, Andrew Bates, a White House spokesman, declared the revelation “absolutely false.”

Still, another top advisor went on the record to state that President Biden recognizes the enormous stakes for the country that are based on whether or not he continues to run. He is “well aware of the political challenge he faces,” the source added.

A CBS News poll since the debate found that President Trump is edging ahead of Biden in national polls, buttressing previous results showing the Republican holding even higher leads among most or all likely swing state voters. Trump’s currently lead over Biden across the nation extends 50% to 48%, another sign that only a sliver of Americans remain completely undecided about whom they will vote for in November.

First Lady Dr. Jill Biden has been her husband’s biggest champion to remain in the race, shielding him from aides over the past weekend who she feared may have encouraged him to drop out. Embattled first son Hunter Biden, who was recently convicted on felony gun charges and remains a target by conservatives, has similarly urged his father to stay in the race.

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