Joe Biden’s spokeswoman affirmed on Wednesday that he is “absolutely not” dropping out of the White House race despite mounting pressure after a poor debate performance against Donald Trump.
Democrats are in a state of panic following the debate, with talks of finding a replacement candidate gaining traction amid polls showing Trump widening his lead.
Reports from The New York Times and CNN suggested that Biden, 81, had expressed concerns to a key ally about the future of his reelection campaign if he didn’t quickly reassure the public of his capabilities.
However, White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre refuted those reports, stating that Biden has no plans to withdraw from the race.
“The president is resolute and remains committed to the race,” she told reporters.
Biden, in a discussion with campaign and party staff, reiterated his determination to stay in the race until the end, emphasizing the importance of Democratic unity for victory.
He also conveyed this message during a meeting with Democratic governors at the White House, where they pledged their support for him.
“The president made it clear that he is fully invested, and we assured him of our unwavering support,” said Maryland Governor Wes Moore, joined by Tim Walz of Minnesota and Kathy Hochul of New York.
Walz further endorsed Biden, stating that he is “fit to serve.”
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, another potential replacement candidate for Biden, affirmed her support for him, declaring him as the nominee.
Biden, acknowledging his debate blunder, admitted to a radio interview that he made a mistake during the 90 minutes on stage, but highlighted his accomplishments over the past 3.5 years.
– Aftermath –
The Biden campaign is working diligently to reassure Democratic donors and voters that the debate performance was an isolated incident and not a fatal blow to his reelection prospects.
However, party leaders have expressed frustration over what they perceive as evasion and excuses from Biden and his team.
The concern escalated after a New York Times poll post-debate showed Trump with a significant lead over Biden among likely voters.
Biden’s delayed outreach to Democratic congressional leaders has also raised eyebrows among staff, who fear that the handling of the aftermath may have a more damaging impact than the debate itself.
Democratic lawmakers are beginning to voice their doubts publicly, with some, like Arizona congressman Raul Grijalva, suggesting that it might be time to consider alternative candidates.
In Biden’s hometown of Scranton, Pennsylvania, residents expressed sympathy for him but displayed no campaign signs for either candidate.
As Biden gears up for a television interview and campaign stops in swing states, the president faces a critical test of his ability to respond effectively.
– ‘More worrisome’ –
Biden recently cited fatigue as a contributing factor to his debate performance and admitted that he may have been unprepared due to extensive travel before the event.
Democratic concerns have escalated, with calls for Biden to consider stepping down gaining traction among party members.
