Many Democrats are sticking with Biden. Here's why

Headlines scream for Joe Biden to quit. Donors threaten to withhold campaign funds, and a growing list of Democrats call time on the president's career.

But for all the stories dominated by the latest politician, fundraiser or left-wing actor to voice their displeasure, a longer list of Democrats are sticking by him.

At least 80 Democratic politicians have publicly backed the 81-year-old, and more are joining them as he insists he is going nowhere.

To many, his political record, his principles and his 2020 victory over Donald Trump mean more than the damage of a rambling performance in any debate or public appearance, or health fears during a new four-year term.

Mr Biden's first solo news conference of the year on Thursday, though filled with gaffes and drifting statements, sparked several more expressions of public support.

“Tonight, President Biden was knowledgeable, engaging, and capable,” Democratic Senator Chris Coons said on social media afterwards. “No one is more prepared to lead our nation forward than Joe Biden.”

Gavin Newsom, the California governor touted as a possible successor, told CBS on Friday he was "all in" for Mr Biden, adding that there was "no daylight" between them.

Representative Brendan Boyle of Pennsylvania said Mr Biden "showed he knows a million times more about policy" than Trump, "the convict conman".

Experts say these politicians have a host of reasons for their support, including Mr Biden's record in office, his 2020 victory against Trump and the gamble of putting in a new candidate so close to the November election.

"The president has made it clear he wants to continue to run, and I think people are being very respectful of that," said Simon Rosenberg, a Democratic strategist.

"And it's also true that in our system, replacing a candidate for president this late is hard and is unprecedented, and so there's enormous reticence about making a big change."

He added that there was a "healthy debate" about who the nominee should be.

However, a range of groups have said that the candidate should be Mr Biden, including the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, which has about 40 members, and the 60-member Congressional Black Caucus, which Mr Biden met earlier this week.

Ameshia Cross, a former Obama campaign adviser, said that the black caucus, as well as many black voters, see Mr Biden as a president committed to civil rights, unlike his rival, Trump.

"They understand what is at stake with a Donald J Trump presidency," she said. "This is a guy who has stood against DEI - diversity, equity and inclusion efforts."

Mr Biden has received public support from several politicians on the left, including the New York congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who have previously criticised Mr Biden for an agenda they have said is not progressive enough.

Ms Cross said many recognise the risks a Trump presidency brings to civil and LGBTQ rights, and climate change.

"These are things that matter to the progressive left, and the president has actually worked on those things," she said.

To date, most of Mr Biden's support comes from politicians running for re-election in safer districts, rather than those who worry Mr Biden could harm their own election chances in tougher seats.

Mr Rosenberg said that the White House "needs to be respectful of their concerns and deal with them, I think, in a far more aggressive manner".

Even as calls grow for Mr Biden to exit the race, the most recent poll seems to suggest that he has not lost much voter support.

The Biden campaign has touted a survey from the Washington Post, ABC News and Ipsos published this week, which shows Mr Biden and Trump in a dead-heat, similar to survey results from before the debate. But the poll also found two-thirds of Americans want Mr Biden to step aside.

Mr Biden has also lost support from some donors, including Democratic fundraiser and actor George Clooney, who wrote a damning op-ed this week calling on Mr Biden to step down.

Other top donors, however, are sticking by the president.

Shekar Narasimhan, who has been organising fundraisers for Democrats for more than two decades, said there had been no change in his plans.

"Our eyes can see what’s going on, our ears can hear what's being talked about but we are keeping our heads down to get the work done," said Mr Narsimhan, who is the founder of the Asian American Pacific Islander Victory Fund Super-PAC.

"It's the president’s decision to make, whether he wants to run or not, and we will go with whatever he decides," he said. "But it's better to end this discussion as soon as possible."

He said his support for Mr Biden came from the belief that he would win.

"This election will be decided by no more than a total of 50,000 votes in three states - Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin - and we have the ground game and infrastructure to win there," he said.

Frank Islam, who sits on the National Finance Committee, said he had a fundraiser planned at his Maryland home later this month. "I am absolutely going ahead with it because I know he [Mr Biden] will win," he said.