US President Joe Biden told a “key ally” that he knows he may not be able to salvage his bid for the 2024 candidacy if he cannot convince the American public in the coming days that he is up for the job following the disastrous debate performance last week.

Biden, who the ally emphasized is still deeply in the fight for re-election, understands that his next few appearances heading into the holiday weekend must go well – according to The New York Times.

“He knows if he has two more events like that, we’re in a different place” by the end of the weekend, said the ally to NYT, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive situation.

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In response, Andrew Bates, White House Senior Deputy Press Secretary and Deputy Assistant to the President, said the claim was “absolutely false” and that the White House had not been given enough time to respond.

Another top advisor to Biden said the president was “well aware of the political challenge he faces.”

A CBS News poll on Wednesday showed that former President Donald J. Trump pulled ahead of Biden since the debate with 50 percent to 48 percent nationally and 51 percent to 48 percent in battleground states.