In the wake of President Joe Biden's lackluster debate performance, there has been growing pressure for the 81-year-old president to step aside in the 2024 race. However, the White House announced on Tuesday that Biden is determined to push forward and will embark on a series of actions to counter the mounting criticism.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated that the administration aims to "turn the page" on the negative reception of Biden's debate performance. Denying any intention of stepping aside, Jean-Pierre attributed the president's shortcomings to "a bad night" caused by a cold and jet lag from recent international trips.

During a campaign event, Biden himself admitted to not being at his sharpest due to his travel schedule and joked about falling asleep on stage during the debate. However, Democratic leaders are increasingly skeptical of the White House's attempts to downplay the incident, questioning if it was merely a one-time occurrence or part of a larger pattern.

Several key figures within the Democratic Party have expressed concern about Biden's ability to win the November elections. Donors and legislators are growing frustrated with the lack of satisfactory explanation from the White House regarding the president's poor performance. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi acknowledged that there is a legitimate question about whether Biden's performance was an isolated incident or a reflection of a larger issue.

Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas became the first Democratic member of Congress to publically call for Biden to step down, citing his inability to effectively defend his accomplishments in the debate. Additionally, Rep. Jared Golden from Maine expressed his belief that Donald Trump would win the election and stated his acceptance of that outcome.

Despite the criticism, Biden has received encouragement from his family to continue the race. Both First Lady Jill Biden and his son Hunter have urged him to keep fighting. However, concerns remain that any future misstep by the president, even if not on the same scale as the debate disaster, could reignite doubts among voters about his fitness for office.

To counteract the negative impression left by the debate, Biden has planned an active schedule in the coming days. He will meet with congressional leaders, Democratic governors, and hold a press conference during the NATO summit next week. Additionally, he has agreed to an interview with ABC's George Stephanopoulos and has scheduled trips to Wisconsin and Philadelphia.

The president's campaign has also engaged in internal discussions to address the aftermath of the debate. Efforts are underway to boost morale within the administration and keep the focus on governing.

As the pressure mounts, all eyes will be on President Biden as he strives to regain momentum and convince skeptics that he is the right candidate to lead the Democratic Party in the upcoming elections.