In the wake of what many considered a disastrous debate performance by Joe Biden, calls for the Democratic nominee to withdraw from the race are mounting. A total of nine House Democrats have now joined a growing chorus of anti-Trump politicians, pundits, and columnists urging Biden to make way for a replacement candidate.

While some Democrats have expressed skepticism about Biden's future in the race, they have stopped short of directly calling on him to step aside. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi raised concerns about Biden's cognitive abilities, saying, "I think it's a legitimate question to say this is an episode or this is a condition."

Rep. James Clyburn, a former party leader, expressed his preference for Biden to remain the nominee, but suggested that Vice Presidential candidate Kamala Harris should replace him if he were to stand down. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, who has been mentioned as a potential replacement for Biden on the ticket, has stated that he will continue to support Biden as long as he remains in the race, but emphasized that only Biden can make decisions about his candidacy.

Biden, appearing more energetic in a speech from Raleigh, North Carolina, the day after the debate, acknowledged his own limitations, stating, "I don't walk as easy as I used to, I don't speak as smoothly as I used to, I don't debate as well as I used to." He contrasted himself with President Trump, declaring, "I know what I do know, I know how to tell the truth!"

Critics, including some of Trump's staunchest opponents, took to social media to express their disappointment with Biden's performance. Many highlighted his struggles with maintaining a coherent train of thought, speaking softly to the point of being barely audible at times, and giving disjointed answers. During moments when Trump was speaking, Biden was observed standing with a blank stare on his face, mouth agape.

The abysmal reviews from the debate quickly sparked discussions among Democrats about the possibility of replacing Biden on the ticket. However, there is no formal process in place for replacing a nominee unwilling to step aside voluntarily. Biden has secured the support of nearly 3,900 out of the available 4,000 delegates in the primaries. While these delegates are not legally obligated to nominate him, they are expected to do so at the Democratic convention in August.

In an unlikely scenario, the delegates could choose to spurn Biden and select another nominee. Alternatively, Biden could withdraw from the race before the convention, giving his delegates the opportunity to cast their votes for another candidate. Party rules dictate that if he were to withdraw after the convention, the approximately 500 members of the Democratic National Committee could convene a special meeting and choose a new nominee through a majority vote.

While Harris appears to be the most obvious choice for a replacement, names like Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and California Governor Gavin Newsom have also been mentioned as potential candidates. Both have publicly defended Biden following the debate.

As the calls for Biden to step aside gain momentum, the future of the Democratic presidential nomination remains uncertain. The party faces difficult decisions as they navigate the path forward in the race for the White House.

[Correction: This article has been updated to reflect the number of House Democrats currently calling for Biden to drop out.]