Biden's family telling him to stay in the race and keep fighting

President seeking ideas from advisers about how to proceed after disastrous debate

US President Joe Biden's family is urging him to stay in the race and keep fighting despite last week's disastrous debate performance, even as some members of his clan privately expressed exasperation at how he was prepared for the event by his staff, people close to the situation said on June 30.

Mr Biden huddled with his wife, children and grandchildren at Camp David while he tried to figure out how to tamp down Democratic anxiety.

While his relatives were acutely aware of how poorly he did against former president Donald Trump, they argued that he could still show the country he remained capable of serving for another four years.

Mr Biden has been soliciting ideas from advisers about how to proceed, and his staff have been discussing whether he should hold a news conference or sit for interviews to defend himself and change the narrative, but nothing has been decided.

The campaign scheduled what could be a crucial call with its national fund-raising committee for July 1 to calm nerves and take temperatures.

One of the strongest voices imploring Mr Biden to resist pressure to drop out was his son Hunter Biden, whom the President has long leaned on for advice, said one of the people informed about the discussions, who, like others, spoke on condition of anonymity to share internal deliberations.

Hunter Biden wants Americans to see the version of his father that he knows scrappy and in command of the facts - rather than the stumbling, ageing president Americans saw on the night of June 27.

Other family members were trying to figure out how they could be helpful. At least one of the President's grandchildren has expressed interest in getting more involved with the campaign, perhaps by talking with influencers on social media, according to the informed person.