In the wake of President Joe Biden's lackluster debate performance, some delegates and major donors are pushing for the Democratic National Committee (DNC) to defer the virtual roll call and explore alternative presidential nominees, according to sources familiar with the matter.

With concerns mounting about Biden's candidacy, a group of grassroots activists and donors have joined forces to prevent a virtual nomination, organizing Zoom calls and coordinating efforts to delay the roll call. One such group, Pass The Torch, comprising Democratic activists and voters, is urging President Biden to pass the torch to a new ticket that has a better chance of defeating former President Donald Trump.

Pass The Torch, along with another grassroots organization called Delegates Are Democracy, opposes the virtual roll call vote, emphasizing the importance of a legitimate and unhurried process. While Delegates Are Democracy doesn't call for Biden to step aside, they believe that an in-person roll call at the convention would position the party's nominee strongly against Trump.

Chris Dempsey, a DNC delegate from Massachusetts leading Delegates Are Democracy, emphasized the role of delegates in choosing a nominee, stating that their rights and responsibilities should be acknowledged. The group has engaged in positive conversations with multiple Democratic House members, though their willingness to support the cause remains uncertain.

However, the DNC chairs clarified in a recent meeting that they do not intend to open voting until August 1 at the earliest. The virtual roll call was initially necessitated by an early deadline in Ohio, but since the deadline has been pushed back, Pass The Torch and some experts question the legal necessity of the move.

In response to the growing concerns, the Biden campaign has reached out to delegates to gauge their ongoing support. While a few delegates may have been persuaded, major Democratic donors remain largely unconvinced. According to longtime big-dollar donor Scott Wallace, the overwhelming consensus among donors is that they would rather focus their support on holding the Senate and capturing the House, as opposed to directing their contributions to the Biden campaign.

The DNC Rules Committee is scheduled to convene next week to vote on whether to proceed with the virtual roll call. As the debate over Biden's candidacy intensifies, the outcome of this vote may have a significant impact on the Democratic Party's nomination process.

Please note that the information provided in this article is sourced from ABC News reports and represents the different stakeholder perspectives involved in the ongoing discussions concerning the virtual roll call and alternative nominees at the Democratic National Convention.