AS geriatric Joe Biden stumbles and mumbles, senior Democrats could strike as late as mid-August to dash his hopes of a second term.

The party will gather in Chicago on August 19 to formally nominate their candidate.

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Though no viable challenger has yet to put their hat in the ring, Vice President Kamala Harris is dropping hints she is ready to lead.

With polls neck and neck, Democrat operatives in DC tell me they will leave it as late as possible to wait and see.

Not just to avoid the President becoming a lame duck but to maximise the Democrats’ chances of keeping control of the Senate in November.

That would be too late for a primary process, so Biden would have to be convinced to release his delegates on the eve of the Chicago gathering – but plots are active.

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Possible names floating around include Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, California Governor and Gavin Newsom.

And bookies tell me there is a growing market in DC for . . . Michelle Obama.