First Democratic senator challenges Biden candidacy

The first Democratic senator has questioned President Joe Biden's election chances, after seven congressman urged the 81-year-old to step aside.

Michael Bennet of Colorado said that he expected the president to lose to Donald Trump by a "landslide", but stopped short of saying he should withdraw. Questions have been raised about Mr Biden's fitness for office after a stumbling presidential debate performance against Trump late last month.

Mr Bennet told CNN that remaining in the election was "something for the president to consider". Trump, he said, was "on track, I think, to win this election and maybe win it by a landslide". He added that the issue was "a moral question about the future of our country".

Also on Wednesday, Nancy Pelosi signalled her uncertainty about Mr Biden’s future, when asked “does he have your support?” in a TV interview. "I want him to do whatever he decides to do," Ms Pelosi told MSNBC's Morning Joe programme. "And that is the way it is. Whatever he decides to go with."

"It's up to the president to decide if he's going to run. We are all encouraging him to make that decision, because time is running short.