Joe Biden's presidential campaign was in full damage control mode Friday as the president sought to recover from a disastrous debate showing with Donald Trump that triggered panic among Democrats and even murmurs about replacing the 81-year-old on the White House ticket.
The verdict on Biden's performance from party strategists and across the mainstream media was unanimous and damning, labelling the debate a "political disaster" and highlighting the "consternation" within the party ranks with the election a little over four months away.
