WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has affirmed repeatedly that he is committed to staying in the presidential race, regardless of how the question is posed.
However, in response to inquiries from journalists in recent weeks, the embattled Democratic president has provided some hints about what circumstances could lead him to reconsider his candidacy, especially as calls from his own party to end his campaign persist.
Here are the reasons Biden has mentioned that could potentially make him rethink his run:
Divine intervention
During an interview with ABC News, when asked if he would step down if he could not defeat Donald Trump, Biden defiantly stated he had no intention of dropping out.
He expressed his conviction that he is the most qualified person to defeat Trump and emphasized his ability to get things done. When pressed further by anchor George Stephanopoulos about hypothetically standing down, Biden humorously mentioned that if “the Lord Almighty” advised him to, he might consider it.
Cold, hard data
Biden indicated at a news conference that he would be willing to step aside if presented with concrete evidence that Vice President Kamala Harris would be a stronger opponent against Trump. However, he mentioned that no one has suggested he cannot win, based on current polling data which shows a competitive race.
A fateful accident
Although not directly prompted, Biden joked about the possibility of not being on the ballot in November unless he “gets hit by a train.” This lighthearted comment was made during an interview, implying a scenario where unforeseen events might impact his candidacy.
A not-yet-diagnosed medical ailment
In an interview with BET journalist Ed Gordon, Biden mentioned that a new medical condition detected by doctors could potentially make him reassess his candidacy. Despite ongoing scrutiny of his health, medical evaluations have shown him fit for office, with no major neurological issues reported.
Biden recently tested positive for COVID-19, prompting him to cancel a meeting with voters in Nevada.
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Associated Press writers Amelia Thomson-Deveaux in Washington and Aamer Madhani in Las Vegas contributed to this report.
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