Family members surrounding President Joe Biden are reportedly past the point of encouraging him to run out the clock on Democrats’ calls that he exit the race. Instead, they are working with the embattled leader to plan when and how he ends his reelection campaign in the coming days.

NBC News reported that some of the president’s closest family members, including First Lady Dr. Jill Biden and his son Hunter Biden, are working with the patriarch to manage a departure on his own terms. Axios has previously reported that allies believe President Biden may break the news as soon as this weekend, though those plans remain fluid, according to two sources close to the White House.

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The overall tone of the conversations has placed heavy emphasis on putting the Democratic Party in the best position to defeat President Donald Trump, insiders say, a strategy which includes keeping the president neutral even as Vice President Kamala Harris is expected to enter the race to succeed him. Instead, Biden may be getting behind the idea of a “blitz primary” where Harris would compete on equal footing with other notable Democrats, participating in forums with guest hosts – perhaps even Taylor Swift – before heading into a national convention where hundreds of uncommitted Democratic delegates would be up for grabs.

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Another aspect of the looming announcement is how it might affect President Biden’s overall health. He remains isolated after contracting Covid and was sick for a week leading up to his dismal debate performance last month. Hunter’s recent conviction on gun charges has taken a heavy toll on the president’s mind as well, allies say.

To be sure, the change in strategy is all the more remarkable because of the defiant tone struck by Biden and his top aides about remaining in the race. On Thursday, Politico sent a text message to advisor Anita Dunn, writing, “As you probably know rumors are rampant that POTUS is dropping out tomorrow.”

She simply texted back, “Yes, but he isn’t, so get a good night’s sleep.”

At the same time, panic has grown significantly as Democrats have watched with growing unease the cause for celebration at this week’s Republican National Convention where President Trump was greeted like a modern-day biblical figure after surviving Saturday’s attempted assassination. During CNN’s coverage on Thursday, progressive commentator Van Jones compared the energy in the hall to Democrats’ nomination of former President Barack Obama in 2008.

“This spirit that this guy has, you guys think that’s ‘cause he’s drunk,’ he’s not,” Jones said about fellow guest and Republican Scott Jennings. “This whole thing is like this. The last time I was in a convention that felt like this was Obama 2008.”

“And just like Obama, Trump is showing at this convention, he has the capacity to alter the composition of the electorate,” Jennings replied, according to The Hill.

White House spokesman Andrew Bates has been working the phones to furiously deny the report, telling NBC News in a statement that no decision by the Biden clan has been made. “That is not happening, period,” he said. “The individuals making those claims are not speaking for his family or his team — and they will be proven wrong. Keep the faith.”

Those words were echoed by Biden campaign manager Jen O’Malley Dillon who appeared on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” to defend the campaign shortly before host Joe Scarborough went on an extended screed about the selfishness of advisors keeping Biden in the race.

Ron Klain, Biden’s former White House chief of staff and an adviser to him for decades, told NBC News he’s pulling for his friend. “I think he’s feeling the pressure,” said Klain, who has spoken to Biden recently. “I want him to stay in.”

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