President Joe Biden, facing mounting pressure and doubts about his physical and mental fitness for a second term, delivered a defiant message to supporters in Madison, Wisconsin, on Friday. "I'm staying in the race. I'll beat Donald Trump," he declared, as he prepares for a crucial TV interview with ABC to address concerns about his health and ability to lead. The interview, deemed the most consequential of his career, comes after a disastrous debate performance last week that sparked panic within the Democratic Party and calls for him to withdraw from the race.
Despite growing criticism and defections from some Democratic donors and lawmakers, the Biden campaign has pushed back hard against any suggestion of withdrawal. The president's team released an aggressive campaign travel schedule for the rest of July, and Biden himself went on the attack against Trump, labeling him the "biggest liar and threat to our democracy in American history." The president's energetic stump speech and defiant message aimed to quell doubts and rally support, but the road ahead remains uncertain. Post-debate polls show Biden's poll deficit widening, and some high-profile Democratic supporters, like Abigail Disney, have publicly called for him to step aside, fearing a loss in November.