In a rare primetime interview with ABC News, President Joe Biden declared that only the "Lord Almighty" could convince him to end his bid for re-election. Amid rising calls from within his own party for a younger candidate, Biden remains resolute in his determination to continue his campaign.
Speaking to George Stephanopoulos, the 81-year-old president dismissed the idea of taking a cognitive test to reassure voters of his fitness for another term. "I have a cognitive test every single day. Every day I have that test - everything I do [is a test]," Biden said. He attributed his poor performance in a recent debate with Donald Trump to exhaustion and a "bad cold."
Biden's candidacy has faced increasing scrutiny from Democratic officials and donors, with some urging him to step aside for a younger alternative. Despite this, Biden expressed confidence in his ability to serve and win. "I don't think anybody's more qualified to be president or win this race than me," he asserted.
Throughout the interview, Stephanopoulos pressed Biden on his capacity to serve another term, suggesting that the president might be in denial about his health and ability to win. Biden responded firmly, "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."
Following the interview, Biden sought to energize his supporters at a rally in Madison, Wisconsin, acknowledging his disastrous debate performance. "Ever since then, there's been a lot of speculation. What's Joe going to do?" he told the crowd. "Here's my answer. I am running and going to win again," Biden proclaimed, receiving cheers from the audience.
Despite his confidence, Biden's campaign faces a critical moment. Reports indicate that the next few days could determine the future of his re-election bid as donors and Democratic allies weigh their support. At the rally, Biden addressed concerns about his age, referencing his accomplishments in the White House. "I see all these stories that say I'm too old," he said. "Was I too old to create 15 million jobs? Was I too old to erase student debt for five million Americans? Do you think I'm too old to beat Donald Trump?" he asked, prompting the crowd to respond with a resounding "no."
Pressure on Biden to step aside has only intensified since the debate, marked by several instances where he lost his train of thought, raising concerns about his age and mental fitness. Some major Democratic donors have publicly warned they will withhold funds unless he is replaced. The campaign plans an aggressive comeback, with First Lady Jill Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris set to embark on a campaign blitz across battleground swing states.
Biden's senior team is acutely aware of the pressure from within the Democratic Party to make a decision on his candidacy soon. Reports emerged that House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries had scheduled a meeting with senior House Democrats to discuss Biden's candidacy. Five Democrats in the House of Representatives have now called for him to withdraw from the race, citing concerns about his ability to effectively campaign and win against Donald Trump.
"This is not a decision I've come to lightly, but there is simply too much at stake to risk a second Donald Trump presidency," said Congresswoman Angie Craig in a statement. Despite these calls, no senior Democrats have publicly demanded Biden's withdrawal, and his campaign has pointed this out to reporters.
Biden's team has pointed to recent polling showing strong performance in battleground states, with the president leading Trump in Michigan and Wisconsin. The campaign remains confident, with spokesperson Kevin Munoz stating, "This was always going to be a close race - and the dynamics at play are the ones we've long anticipated."
As House and Senate Democrats return to Washington, the coming days will be crucial. Lawmakers are expected to discuss Biden's performance and the future of his candidacy. Democratic leaders, including Rep. Hakeem Jeffries and Sen. Mark Warner, are reportedly organizing discussions on Biden's path to re-election.
"Biden is a very decent human and a legendary leader in many ways. I have no doubt in his ability to make good decisions and finish out this term as POTUS," said one House Democrat, speaking anonymously. "But frankly, he's just not up to simultaneously being POTUS and being a compelling reelection candidate. It's too much for him, and while it's obvious to pretty much everyone, he seems stubbornly blind to that reality."