US President Joe Biden declared that only the “Lord Almighty” would prompt him to consider ending his reelection bid.
Amid growing concerns within the Democratic Party, Biden dismissed calls to step down and denied that his debate performance had significantly damaged his campaign.
In an ABC News interview, Joe Biden, 81, refused to commit to an independent medical exam to reassure the public of his mental fitness, maintaining that he has the stamina to serve another four years.
He rejected the notion that he is trailing Donald Trump in the polls and stated he had not directly heard discussions among senior Democrats about asking him to step aside.
During the 22-minute prime-time interview with anchor George Stephanopoulos, Biden avoided significant gaffes that had marred his previous debate performance.
However, the interview is unlikely to ease concerns among voters, donors, and Democratic officials who fear he may not be able to defeat his Republican opponent or serve another term even if he wins.
Biden emphasized, “I’ll feel as long as I gave it my all and I did the best job as I know I can do, that’s what this is about,” when asked how he would feel if Trump won the election.
The president’s campaign, undeterred by recent polls showing him losing ground to Donald Trump, plans to continue with more events, including appearances in battleground Pennsylvania.
Recent polls indicate Biden trailing Trump by six percentage points, with a New York Times/Siena College poll showing that 74% of voters believe he is too old to be president. Despite this, Biden remains confident, stating, “All the pollsters I talk to tell me it’s a tossup.”
Before the ABC interview, Illinois Representative Mike Quigley joined a growing number of House Democrats calling on Biden to drop out or expressing doubts about his ability to defeat Trump.
Biden acknowledged that Senator Mark Warner was rallying lawmakers to pressure him to step aside but remained resolute in his decision to run.
Biden attributed his poor debate performance to a severe cold, dismissing any serious health concerns. He admitted being distracted by Trump’s shouting during the debate, saying, “I realized that I just wasn’t in control.”
The coming weeks will test Biden’s resolve as concerns from Democratic lawmakers and donors grow. After his trip to Pennsylvania, Biden will host NATO leaders at a summit in Washington. This increased activity aims to prove his capability to serve another term. However, some Democrats remain wary.
Biden recently met with over 20 Democratic governors, telling them he is “in it to win it” and receiving public support from several, including California’s Gavin Newsom and Michigan’s Gretchen Whitmer. Privately, the governors raised tough questions, and Biden acknowledged the need for more rest.
