Shows of loyalty and damage control, but Democrats are jostling for position

With the White House scrambling to prevent Joe Biden's candidacy entering a full-blown crisis, several state governors were said to be subtly positioning themselves as late substitutes - while avoiding being seen to do so.

- Robert Tait

The Biden campaign has launched a counteroffensive in response to fears that the 81-year-old president's shaky performance in last week's debate has made defeat at the hands of Donald Trump inevitable.

But while several governors who are seen as the next generation of the Democrats' leadership have publicly avowed loyalty to Biden, they are keenly watching for slippage in Biden's already fragile poll standings and a loss of support among donors in the next two weeks.

"The temperature is high," one Democratic governor told Politico.

"A lot of anxiety, a lot of folks at the edge of their seats." Gavin Newsom, the governor of California and a possible Biden surrogate, defended the president immediately after Thursday's disastrous debate performance, saying he would "never turn my back" on him. But he was widely seen to have expressed ambiguity by also saying that he was ready "to step up".

The Maryland governor, Wes Moore, another candidate touted as a potential substitute, has publicly said he will not seek the Democratic nomination and does not foresee Biden leaving the race. Other governors whose names have been floated are Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania another vital battleground state-and JB Pritzker of Illinois.