In the wake of a lackluster debate performance and slipping poll numbers, members of the media and prominent Democrats are calling on President Biden to have more unscripted public appearances and engage with the press in order to improve his image and chances of defeating Donald Trump in the upcoming election.

During an appearance on CNN, Senator Peter Welch emphasized the need for Biden to be out in the public, holding open-ended press conferences, engaging with voters, and participating in unscripted events. Welch believes that simply talking to senators or governors would not be sufficient in a "show me" situation.

Biden, who has conducted fewer formal interviews and press conferences than his predecessors, recently joined ABC News' George Stephanopoulos for an interview. However, former CNN media reporter Brian Stelter believes that an interview alone is not enough to address the concerns surrounding Biden's campaign. Stelter called it a "Band-Aid on a bullet hole" and suggested a series of press conferences, town halls, and even a rematch debate with Trump to help salvage Biden's reputation.

Some have raised questions about Biden's ability to perform in a debate-like setting without a teleprompter for an extended period of time. Stelter highlighted that if Biden was capable of holding a primetime news conference or participating in live interviews, he likely would have done so already.

Following the ABC interview, concerns among Democrats have not been assuaged. ABC correspondent Jon Karl stated that the interview did nothing to alleviate fears among jittery Democrats, noting that Biden seems unaware of the dire situation his campaign is in.

Former Obama adviser David Axelrod echoed this sentiment, stating that a growing chorus of Democrats is calling for Biden to step aside. Axelrod described Biden's response as one of denial, delusion, and defiance.

Republican strategist Doug Heye also expressed the need for Biden to answer questions from reporters and engage more with the press. Heye cited Biden's decision not to sit for a live interview on Super Bowl Sunday as evidence that the White House lacks faith in Biden's ability to handle unscripted interactions.

While the White House cited scheduling issues for the taped ABC interview, former Biden White House communications director Kate Bedingfield acknowledged that there should have been a quicker response from Biden in addressing the debate performance by participating in live interviews and engaging with voters in town halls.

Symone Sanders Townsend, a former aide to Vice President Harris and an MSNBC contributor, believes that Biden's strength lies in his ability to connect with real people and answer their questions during town halls or similar events.

Even House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a staunch Biden supporter, called on him to participate in interviews with "serious" journalists, emphasizing the need for him to showcase his knowledge, judgment, and empathy for the American people.

Axios senior media reporter Sara Fischer warns that Biden's upcoming ABC interview alone will not be enough to repair his reputation with the American people.

As concerns continue to mount, President Biden is under increasing pressure to step up his engagement with the press, participate in unscripted events, and connect directly with voters in order to regain momentum and address growing doubts about his campaign's prospects.