Biden tries to calm Democrats as 2024 drop-out pressure mounts: 'I'm not leaving'

• President Joe Biden is holding calls and meetings with close allies, Democratic governors, congressmembers and campaign staff to reassure them as panic grows about his 2024 reelection bid.
• Pressure on Biden to consider bowing out of the 2024 race against Donald Trump has mounted this week in the wake of his stumbling debate performance.
• Biden and his campaign have repeatedly maintained that he is staying in the race.
• The White House announced Biden will sit for an interview with ABC News on Friday and will hold a press conference during the NATO summit next week.

President Joe Biden and his White House staff spent Wednesday delivering pep talks in calls and meetings with close allies, Democratic governors, congressmembers and campaign staff.

"Let me say this as clearly as I possibly can, as simply and straightforward as I can: I am running," Biden said on a call with campaign staff, an official told NBC News. "I'm not leaving. I'm in this race to the end and we're going to win."

The comments are part of Biden's larger firefighting mission as his team works to quell Democratic panic about his reelection bid in the wake of his disastrous debate performance against former President Donald Trump last week.

Biden was joined at the Wednesday campaign meeting by Vice President Kamala Harris, who is increasingly drawing eyes as a potential replacement for the president if he drops out of the race.

The president spoke with some of his closest allies and Capitol Hill supporters Wednesday, including former Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y. and Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del.

The president has also taped interviews