US political analysists have expressed concern over the poor performance of President Joe Biden in the first debate with Republican challenger Donald Trump ahead of November's razor-close election.
Speaking on CNN, which hosted Thursday's debate, several experts criticized 81-year-old Biden for unclear statements and confusing behaviour in the much-anticipated showdown.
CNN political commentator Van Jones, a special adviser to former president Barack Obama, called Biden's performance "painful."
"He's doing the best that he can. But he had a test to meet tonight to restore confidence of the country and of the base. And he failed to do that," Jones said.
CNN chief national correspondent John King had opened the post-debate discussion by stating that there was now "a deep, a wide and a very aggressive panic in the Democratic Party" following Biden's "dismal" performance.
As a result, some in the party were "having conversations" about possibly asking Biden to "step aside," King said.