As he campaigns for Joe Biden's re-election, Barack Obama is privately aware that Biden is in deep trouble.

According to the Washington Post, Biden's former boss is not immune to the panic that has been spreading through his party since Biden's debate disaster on CNN. Indeed, Obama is shaken up and afraid Biden could lose re-election.

Obama joins the panic?

The Post, citing sources close to Obama, said he spoke to Biden after the debate and offered moral support. The details of the call weren't shared.

The report also said Obama has told his inner circle that Biden's path to re-election is shrinking after the debate.

It's no secret that Obama has long had his doubts about "Scranton Joe."

Obama famously snubbed Biden's ambition to run for president in 2016, with Obama favoring Hillary Clinton instead. During Biden's 2020 run, Obama was rumored to have his doubts, telling allies not to underestimate Biden's ability to "f--- things up."

Over the past year, Obama has shared his concerns with Biden about Donald Trump's political strength, and what Obama sees as weaknesses in the Biden campaign.

These days, Obama might be feeling vindicated. After all, the whole purpose of Biden's 2020 campaign was to keep Trump out of power. Now, Biden is fumbling and quite possibly clearing a path for Trump's return.

Biden crisis escalates

Of course, in public, Obama has shared no trace of his doubts about his former VP.

"Bad debate nights happen. Trust me, I know," he wrote in a post on X. "But this election is still a choice between someone who has fought for ordinary folks his entire life and someone who only cares about himself."

The Biden campaign thanked Obama for his "unwavering support" in a statement to the Washington Post, which notably, was not able to obtain a response from the Obama team.

The Biden crisis has continued to escalate, with a handful of Democratic lawmakers urging him to step down. Some prominent Democratic leaders like Jim Clyburn - who made Biden the nominee in 2020 - have appeared to open the door to replacing Biden this time.

Faced with mounting pressure to bow out, Biden's pride is taking over. On a chest-thumping call Wednesday, Biden insisted he won't be pushed aside, and said he has been underestimated his whole life.

Obama would know.

"I am the leader of the Democratic Party. No one is pushing me out. I've been knocked down before and counted out my whole life," Biden said.