More on the US election

Anthony Zurcher, a North America correspondent, reports that Joe Biden is facing a critical week. After a stumbling debate performance that could be one of the most damaging in recent American history, the president is now fighting for his political survival. This week's Nato summit in Washington DC could either offer him a temporary reprieve or be his last stand. In recent days, Biden has been pushing back against his critics, claiming the support of Democratic primary voters, and challenging his opponents to try to unseat him. He has repeatedly promised that he is moving forward with his campaign and that the time for second-guessing is over. This push will begin at the Nato summit. Biden will host alliance leaders for three days of meetings and public events, culminating in a solo press conference on Thursday afternoon. This is a stage where Biden, who is well-versed in foreign relations, should feel comfortable. However, the stakes are high, as a poor performance could have both international and domestic consequences. A mistake could trigger a political stampede among Democrats, ending his hopes of even making it to the November general election, let alone winning it. It could also heighten concerns among European allies about the increasing likelihood of a Donald Trump presidency and the dramatic foreign policy shifts that would come with it. Kristine Berzina, managing director of the German Marshall Fund Geostrategy North, says Biden is entering this week in a diminished state. European leaders are anxious about Trump and his foreign policy strategy, but now they are also experiencing 'Biden anxiety. ' After his poor debate performance, American allies are beginning to doubt whether Biden is up to the task. They hope to see evidence at the Nato summit that his performance was an aberration and not a new normal. This summit will be a reunion for some leaders after last month's G7 summit in Italy. Berzina says it is worrisome to see a close ally falter, and there is tremendous hope that Biden will pass the test. However, if he fails to deliver, it will raise more questions about the US's reliability. Eyes will be on Biden as he attends summit sessions, hosts foreign leaders at the White House, and engages in bilateral meetings with key leaders, including newly elected British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Even behind closed doors, word of Biden's performance will likely leak out. The military alliance will meet in Washington with Ukraine high on the agenda. Domestically, Biden faces an even taller task. He has pointed to strengthening and expanding Nato in the face of Russian aggression as one of his key accomplishments. This differentiates his leadership from Trump's and any Democrats who might replace him on the ballot. The summit will be his chance to showcase this to the American public. Biden told ABC's George Stephanopoulos that the Nato summit would be a good way to judge his abilities. However, simply meeting low expectations at the summit and the Thursday press conference may not be enough for those already calling for him to step aside. Bill Scher, a liberal pundit and editor of Washington Monthly, says Biden's recent efforts to push back come too late. Public sentiment is solidifying against him, and once it is fully cemented in the polls, it will likely be too late to replace him. Scher, a longtime supporter of Biden, says the president's attempts to defend himself now come after public opinion has turned against him. Polls indicate that nearly three-quarters of Americans, including a majority of Democrats, think Biden should step down. Some Democratic members of Congress have called for him to abandon his bid, and many others have offered only lukewarm support. Despite this, Biden says he will continue with his campaign. He has the national convention delegates to ensure he is the Democratic nominee, and if he can get through this week without a major misstep, he might survive the immediate storm. This week will be crucial for Biden, as it will determine whether he can continue to fight politically or if his time is up.