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Several leaders of the Democratic Party have expressed deep concern over Joe Biden’s performance during the first presidential debate with Republican Donald Trump after the US President stammered and fumbled on several occasions.

The 81-year-old US President struggled to mount an effective defence of his economic policies as Trump claimed that job growth under the Biden administration had been only for “illegal immigrants”.

Biden also botched the description of his administration’s key health initiatives only to vaguely say that “we finally beat Medicare”.

On the other hand, Trump, 78, was forceful and aggressive during the 90-minute debate.

As Biden hurried through some of his talking points on the debate stage and stumbled over some answers, Trump took a dig at the Democrat, “I really don’t know what he said… I don’t think he himself knows what he said.”

Biden’s performance in the debate has spurred a fresh round of calls for the Democrat to consider stepping aside as the party’s nominee for the November polls.

Concerns about Biden’s age and mental fitness as well as his verbal slip-ups have made headlines as he campaigns for another term in office.

Jay Surdukowski, an attorney and Democratic activist from New Hampshire, told Politico, “Biden is toast – calling it now.”

“There are going to be discussions about whether he should continue… He did not do well at all,” said Van Jones, a Democratic strategist, The Guardian reported.

One former Biden administration official remarked, “Biden looks and sounds terrible. He’s incoherent.”

However, Biden’s team said the President had a cold and underscored that Trump was hurting himself by insulting the Republican’s presidential record.

Vice President Kamala Harris said while Biden had a “slow start”, the President made a strong finish. She also highlighted Biden’s overall performance over the past three years.