Biden vows to run as more Democrats ask him to drop out

US President Joe Biden is looking forward to "getting back on the campaign trail next week", fortifying his commitment to stick in the race as more Democrats on Friday called for him to step aside as the party nominee.

“The stakes are high, and the choice is clear. Together, we will win," he said. His statement comes amid conflicting reports of conversations within Mr Biden's circle and the larger party about the president's future. Over the last several weeks, the president has been caught in a whirlwind of political pressure to step down: Calls from within his own party's leaders to withdraw from the race, a loss of big ticket donors and the added pressure that his decision could cost Democrats control of Congress.

Eight Democrats called for him to step aside on Friday alone as his campaign pushed back in media appearances. Mr Biden’s re-election campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon appeared on MSNBC's Morning Joe on Friday, telling the program that the president is not withdrawing.

“Absolutely, the president’s in this race,” she said when asked about Mr Biden's plans. She described him as "more committed than ever to beat Donald Trump" and said he's the "best person" to take on the former president.

In his statement, the president referenced former President Trump's Republican National Convention speech to say he will continue "exposing the threat" of the former president while "making the case" for his record. "Donald Trump’s dark vision for the future is not who we are as Americans. Together, as a party and as a country, we can and will defeat him at the ballot box," he said.