He’s down, but he’s not out. Well, not yet.
Isolated at home in Delaware where he’s recovering from COVID, Joe Biden has a decision to make.
More than 30 Democratic members of Congress have now urged him to step aside.
Sources close to his family claim they are already discussing an exit strategy.
But the White House insists there is no such plan on the table.
In a business-as-normal statement, the president condemned Donald Trump’s speech to the Republican National Convention as “the vision of a dark future for America”.
He said he was “looking forward to returning to the campaign trail next week”.
Lindi Li, a Democratic Party strategist and donor, told Sky News there was a sense of “panic”.
“The blue wall is crumbling and that isn’t about the Democratic Party. It’s about Joe Biden.
“He’s fundamentally a good and decent man, but this is about winning. People are being brave and telling the president the truth.”
Read more:
Who wants Biden to go and what they say
Obama’s ‘concerns’ about candidacy
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Who could replace Biden and how?
Ms Li said he was “insulated” by a hidden circle of advisers and close family, including the First Lady, his wife Jill.
“It’s really hard. How do you walk away from five decades of service and the presidency?”
“I think he will. He understands what’s at stake,” she added.
President Biden has been under immense pressure since his dismal performance in an election debate two weeks ago.
Trump, on the other hand, has been elevated close to sanctified status by his followers since last weekend’s attempted assassination.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Trump recalls assassination attempt
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
Amid the claims and counterclaims, it’s difficult to ascertain exactly what’s going on.
If Biden has already decided to leave the ticket, and that’s still an if, this could be about semantics, the choreography.
If he has not, the Democrats risk open warfare and that would leave them wounded before the real battle, against Trump, has even begun.