Kamala Harris top choice to replace Joe Biden if he steps aside, sources say

It comes as Mr Biden told a 'key ally' his performances this weekend must go well

If named as the party nominee, Harris, 59, would take over money raised by the Biden campaign and inherit campaign infrastructure, the sources said. Picture: Saul Loeb, Pool via AP

US vice president Kamala Harris is the top alternative to replace Joe Biden if he decides not to continue his reelection campaign, according to seven senior sources at the Biden campaign, the White House and the Democratic National Committee with knowledge of current discussions on the topic.

Biden's fumbling, sometimes-incoherent and widely-panned first-debate performance against Republican rival Donald Trump last week set off a wave of panic within the Democratic party over concerns that he may not be fit enough to serve a second term, and prompted calls for top aides to resign.