US President Joe Biden has firmly stated that only the “Lord Almighty” could convince him to abandon his re-election campaign.
Addressing concerns from within his Democratic Party about his age and cognitive health, in a primetime interview with ABC News, Biden was adamant about his capacity to serve another term.
“I have a cognitive test every single day. Every day I have that test – everything I do [is a test],” Biden told George Stephanopoulos, dismissing calls for a public cognitive test to reassure voters.
Despite some Democratic officials and donors suggesting he step aside for a younger candidate following a poorly received debate performance against Donald Trump, Biden remained defiant. He attributed his debate struggles to exhaustion and a cold, asserting, “I don’t think anybody’s more qualified to be president or win this race than me.”
During the interview, Biden sought to dismiss fears about losing ground to Trump, describing the race as a “toss-up” according to pollsters. He dismissed the notion of stepping down, saying, “If the Lord Almighty came down and said, ‘Joe, get out of the race,’ I’d get out of the race. The Lord Almighty’s not coming down.”
At a rally in Madison, Wisconsin, Biden appeared more energetic, directly addressing the debate aftermath. “Ever since then, there’s been a lot of speculation. What’s Joe going to do?” he said. “Here’s my answer. I am running and going to win again.”
Biden’s rally performance was in stark contrast to the debate, where he had several moments of forgetfulness. “I see all these stories that say I’m too old,” he said, defending his record. “Was I too old to create 15 million jobs? Was I too old to erase student debt for five million Americans?”
The rally and interview come at a critical juncture for Biden’s campaign, with significant pressure from within the Democratic Party. Reports suggest that House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has scheduled a meeting to discuss Biden’s candidacy, and several House Democrats have publicly called for him to step down.
Despite this, no senior Democrats have formally requested his withdrawal. Biden’s campaign is planning a vigorous response, with Vice-President Kamala Harris and First Lady Jill Biden set to campaign in swing states.
Senator Mark Warner is reportedly considering forming a group to urge Biden to withdraw, reflecting deep concerns within the party. Meanwhile, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has urged Biden to “carefully evaluate” his candidacy, though she affirmed her commitment to defeating Trump.
A Wall Street Journal poll released on Friday indicated a drop in Democratic support for Biden, from 93% in February to 86%. However, at the Madison rally, many Biden supporters expressed confidence in his ability to continue. “I’m not worried about his health. I think he can go all the way to the election and beyond,” said Susan Shotliff, a primary school teacher.
