MADISON, Wis. ― President Joe Biden stated Friday that he didn’t suppose his candidacy was faltering as badly as perceived after his first 2024 presidential debate in opposition to presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump.
In his first sit-down interview for the reason that June 27 debate, Biden instructed ABC Information’ George Stephanopoulos that he didn’t imagine the polling on his standing within the marketing campaign tells the entire story, and he denied that his allies within the Democratic Get together have known as for him to step down.
“Do you really believe you’re not behind right now?” Stephanopoulos requested Biden.
Biden instructed that polls, which present Trump with a considerable post-debate lead, aren’t absolutely correct. “All the pollsters I talk to tell me it’s a toss-up,” Biden stated.
Equally, he denied that allies would view his marketing campaign as a legal responsibility for the Democratic Get together. “If you are told reliably from your allies, from your friends and supporters in the Democratic Party, in the House, in the Senate that they’re concerned you’re going to lose the House and in the Senate if you stay in, what will you do?” Stephanopoulos requested.
“I’m not going to answer that question,” Biden replied. “It’s not going to happen.”
The president’s interview with ABC got here at an extremely high-stakes second for his reelection marketing campaign. The rationale Biden did it in any respect is as a result of he’s on clean-up obligation after a disastrous debate final week with Trump. He has weeks, if not days, to show to shaky Democratic Get together operatives and supporters that he can do higher ― that he is higher ― than he was throughout Friday’s debate.
Biden stumbled by means of the 90-minute debate however notably struggled at first, when he appeared to lose his prepare of thought in response to a comparatively straightforward query concerning the nationwide debt. He blended up trillions, billions and thousands and thousands, rambled about well being care and making folks eligible for one thing he’s finished for “the COVID,” after which, because the microphone was about to be lower off, confusingly declared, “We finally beat Medicare.”
It obtained worse. The president was handed a query on what ought to have been a slam-dunk difficulty for him, abortion, and for some cause he pivoted to speaking a few lady “murdered by an immigrant,” handing Trump a simple line of assault in opposition to the president’s border insurance policies.
Biden’s look was troubling as effectively. His voice was raspy and weak, which made him exhausting to know. He mouth typically hung barely open, his gaze mounted on one thing.
The president’s efficiency gave a lift to Trump, who delivered extra forceful responses and will roughly articulate full sentences. However per common, Trump lied consistently about huge and little issues, with out being checked by the moderators. And he got here to the controversy as a deeply flawed, if not scary, contender for the presidency: a twice-impeached convicted felon identified for his ugly assaults and authoritarian plans for a second time period.
Samuel Corum by way of Getty Photos
Biden’s marketing campaign has been scrambling to handle the fallout. Staffers stated he had a chilly heading into the controversy, which is why he sounded so tough. The president himself stated he was touring an excessive amount of forward of the controversy and struggled to remain awake throughout the debate, with a promise to recalibrate and do higher going ahead.
However some prime Democratic donors, political operatives and elected officers have begun urging Biden to step apart after his efficiency. Loads of others are standing by him, at the least for now. However even a few of his allies are suggesting that whereas they’re not able to defect but, they’re on the lookout for Biden to show within the coming days that he’s as much as the duty of campaigning and might win in November.
Friday’s ABC interview was primarily Biden’s pitch to these Democrats that they need to keep on with him.
Although Biden’s demeanor throughout the interview was noticeably sharper than in final Thursday’s debate, he was quiet and sometimes sluggish to reply.
Nonetheless, Biden asserted he stays the most effective wager to beat Trump in November, regardless of the doubts.
“Have you convinced yourself that only you can defeat him?” Stephanopoulos requested Biden of Trump.
“I’ve convinced myself of two things,” Biden replied, “that I am the most qualified person to beat him, and I know how to get things done.”
“If you can be convinced that you cannot defeat Donald Trump, will you stand down?” Stephanopoulos continued.
“Well, it depends,” Biden stated. “If the Lord Almighty comes down and tells me not to run, I might do that.”
A Biden-Harris marketing campaign official instructed HuffPost on Friday forward of the ABC interview that the president, the marketing campaign and the White Home have been engaged in an “active effort” to handle considerations raised by the controversy. Past the Friday interview, this official famous, Biden has lately finished two radio interviews, introduced new journey to Wisconsin and Pennsylvania and is about to carry a press convention subsequent week throughout a NATO summit.
The president additionally met with Democratic governors on the White Home this week, all of whom emerged with sturdy statements of help for Biden. He has talked with Home and Senate Democratic leaders, too, who’re standing by him.
