‘If Lord Almighty Comes Down…’: Biden Defensive As 6 Democrats Urge Him To Not Run For US Presidential Election
Amid concerns about his age and fitness, US President Biden dismissed calls for an independent medical evaluation, attributing his poor debate performance to "distraction" from Republican rival Donald Trump.
US Presidential Election 2024: United States President Joe Biden, in a bid to salvage his endangered reelection campaign, firmly rejected calls for an independent medical evaluation during a highly anticipated TV interview, while attributing his dismal debate performance to a "bad episode" and asserting there were "no indications of any serious condition."
"Look, I have a cognitive test every single day," Biden told ABC's George Stephanopoulos, referencing the daily challenges of his demanding job. "Every day, I have that test. Everything I do. You know, not only am I campaigning, but I’m running the world."
The 81-year-old Biden navigated the 22-minute interview on Friday without any significant gaffes that could further jeopardise his faltering candidacy. However, the interview did little to assuage concerns about his age and fitness for another term, as well as his capacity to defeat Donald Trump in November, news agency AP reported.
During the interview, Biden dismissed suggestions that he was more frail than earlier in his presidency, citing "ongoing assessment" by his personal doctors. "They don’t hesitate to tell me if something is wrong," he said.
"Can I run the 100 in 10 flat? No. But I’m still in good shape," Biden remarked.
In the interview, Biden laughed when asked how he might be persuaded to leave the race, saying, "If the Lord Almighty comes down and tells me that, I might do that."
Reflecting on the debate, he admitted, "I didn’t listen to my instincts in terms of preparing."
Biden hinted that Trump's disruptions had unsettled him: "I realised that, even when I was answering a question and they turned his mic off, he was still shouting and I let it distract me. I’m not blaming it on that. But I realised that I just wasn’t in control."
Despite some rambling during the interview, which ABC aired in full without edits, Biden remained focused on turning his campaign around, arguing that large and energetic rallies would be key. When reminded that Trump routinely draws larger crowds, Biden criticised his opponent, calling him a "pathological liar" and accusing him of mishandling the federal response to the COVID pandemic and failing to create jobs.
"You ever see something that Trump did that benefited someone else and not him?" Biden asked.
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Another Democratic Lawmaker Joins Nearly Half A Dozen Colleagues In Urging Biden Not To Run For US President
On Saturday, another Democratic lawmaker joined nearly half a dozen colleagues in urging Biden not to run again, as per AP's report. Representative Angie Craig of Minnesota, referencing the debate, criticised Biden's "lack of a forceful response" and suggested he step aside to "allow for a new generation of leaders to step forward."
The interview, along with a weekend campaign in battleground states Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, was part of Biden's strenuous effort to recover from his rocky debate performance. However, internal party frustrations persist, with some influential Democratic senators working to encourage the president to exit the race and quiet discussions about potential next steps if he withdraws.
Craig, who secured a key suburban victory in the 2018 midterms, could be indicative of districts crucial for Biden in 2020. The interview has left Biden at odds with a notable faction of his party just four months before Election Day and mere weeks before the Democratic National Convention. The prolonged spectacle might benefit Biden by limiting the party's options to replace him, yet it could also distract from essential efforts to frame the 2024 race as a referendum on Trump, the report stated.
"It’s President Biden’s decision whether or not he remains in the race. Voters select our nominee and they chose him," said California Representative Ro Khanna, a member of Biden's campaign's national advisory board, as quoted by AP. "Now, he needs to prove to those voters that he is up to the job and that will require more than just this one interview."
A Democrat who watched the interview said they found Biden still shaky under controlled conditions and predicted more calls for him to leave the race, the report mentioned.
In Wisconsin, Biden remained determined to prove his capability for another term. When asked if he would halt his campaign, he told reporters he was "completely ruling that out" and expressed confidence in his ability to serve another four years. At a rally, he acknowledged his subpar debate performance but insisted, "I am running, and I’m going to win again", AP reported.
While private concerns among Democratic lawmakers, donors, and strategists have intensified since the debate, most have refrained from public criticism, awaiting Biden's response to his weekend travel and interview. Top Biden campaign officials have been urging lawmakers to withhold public comments about the situation, according to an anonymous Democrat.
Senator Mark Warner of Virginia, chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, has been reaching out to fellow senators to discuss whether to ask Biden to exit the race, according to three anonymous sources cited by AP. Warner's efforts are notable given his supportive stance towards Biden and his bipartisan relationships. The Washington Post first reported on Warner's actions.
The strategy remains fluid, with some Senate Democrats expressing concerns about Biden's capacity for reelection. Discussions among these senators could commence as early as Monday to determine the next steps.
Top House Democrats plan to meet virtually on Sunday to discuss the situation, according to an anonymous source. At least five House Democrats have called for Biden to step down as the nominee, AP's report mentioned. Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, while not explicitly calling for Biden's withdrawal, urged him to "listen to the American people and carefully evaluate whether he remains our best hope to defeat Donald Trump."
Signs of discontent were also evident at Biden's rally on Friday, with one attendee waving a sign reading "Pass the torch Joe" and a few others urging him to step aside, as per AP.
Democratic lawmakers, hearing from constituents during the holiday week, are deeply frustrated and divided on whether Biden should stay in the race. Private discussions among House Democrats have intensified, with some drafting public letters suggesting Biden should quit the race, the report mentioned.
Biden appears to be rallying his family around him to demonstrate his viability as the Democrats' best option. The frequent presence of Hunter Biden in the West Wing since the debate has become an uncomfortable dynamic for many staffers, given his recent felony gun charge conviction.
In a hastily arranged meeting with over 20 Democratic governors on Wednesday, Biden acknowledged the need for more rest and fewer evening events to remain effective. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre later stressed that Biden "works around the clock" but also recognises the importance of self-care, AP reported.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, who attended the meeting, said Biden "certainly engaged with us on complicated matters." Beshear added, "But then again, this is something that he needs to not just reassure Democratic governors on, but he needs to reassure the American people."
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