In addition to Peter Welch, several other Democratic leaders also challenged Joe Biden to provide convincing evidence of a viable path to re-election after his failed debate performance.

Washington: As the US presidential election heats up, Peter Welch on Wednesday became the first Democratic senator to publicly call on Joe Biden to drop his re-election bid amid growing concerns about his age and health. “For the good of the country, I am calling on President Biden to withdraw from the race,” the Vermont senator said in an op-ed in the Washington Post.

Besides Peter Welch, several other Democratic leaders have also challenged Joe Biden to make a viable case for re-election after his failed debate performance, poor battleground state polling and growing concerns that he may not be able to defeat former US President Donald Trump in the presidential election. Elections, The Washington Post reported.

Some Democratic leaders questioned Joe Biden's ability to win re-election after disappointing debate performances and poor polling numbers in key states. They are calling on Biden to show a clear path to victory against his likely opponent, former President Donald Trump, in the upcoming election.

However, despite private calls from Democrats to drop out, Biden vowed to fight this race “to the end” of the November election. Biden remained steadfast and told congressional Democrats in a letter Monday that he would continue his reelection bid despite concerns about his mental health.

Biden said he wouldn't run again, “if I didn't absolutely believe I could beat Donald Trump.”

“I want you to know that despite all the speculation in the press and elsewhere, I am firmly committed to staying in this race, running this race to the end, and defeating Donald Trump,” he added.

Further, he also said, “We have 42 days until the Democratic convention and 119 days until the general election,” Biden said in a letter distributed by his re-election campaign.

In the letter, Biden called for unity within his party, stressing the need for a collective effort to defeat former President Donald Trump in the upcoming election.

“Any lack of resolution or clarity about the work ahead helps Trump and hurts us. Now is the time to come together, move forward as a united party and defeat Donald Trump,” Biden said