 Obama separately spoke directly with Biden by phone after last Thursday's debate to offer support as a sounding board and private counselor for the embattled former VP. But Obama has long harbored worries about his party defeating Donald Trump in November, repeatedly warning Biden in recent months about how challenging it will be to win reelection. Just before the debate, Obama conveyed to allies his concerns about the state of the race. By the way, there are people who are no longer appearing at fundraisers with the Biden. So Joe Biden was supposed to travel to Michigan for a fundraiser. Gretchen Whitmer, the governor, not appearing at that fundraiser.