Biden declares he’s “decided” to run’, as calls for him to quit increase
President Biden during a nearly one hour presser, reiterated in his determination to remain in the race despite mounting calls from both supporters and leaders to quit the race.
Jul 11, 2024 08:45 PM
President Biden is seen speaking at a press conference on Thursday on the last day of the NATO summit in Washington. Jacquelyn Martin/AP/AP hide caption
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Jacquelyn Martin/AP/AP
President Biden in a roughly an hour-long press conference reiterated his decision to remain in the race even in the face of increasing calls and concerns from his supporters and leaders who suggested he quit the race and will not be able to defeat the former President Donald Trump in November.
“I believe I’m the best qualified candidate to be president. I beat him once before and I’ll beat him once more,” Biden said of Trump.
“I’m not in this for my legacy,” Biden declared. “I’m in this to complete the job I started.”
If Biden was adamant to remain in the race, despite the concerns of certain Democratic members, Biden said, “I’m determined to run however I believe it’s crucial that I the importance of calming fears by showing that they can know that I’m out there. They should see that I’m in the streets.” Biden said that his campaign was”strong” and was putting in a lot of effort to win “toss-up states.”
Biden did not use any teleprompter. He spoke to 10 reporters at the conference after the closing at the NATO conference that was held in Washington. Biden spoke with a smooth voice and was animated in his remarks on the economy and the prevention of gun violence. Biden addressed a lot of questions with ease, however he was lengthy on certain issues of foreign policy as well as the economic growth of the country since COVID.
The president erred at first, referring to the Vice-President Harris being “Vice President Trump.”
Biden was asked about any concerns were his regarding Harris potential to challenge Trump even if she was on his top spot on the political ladder. “Look, I wouldn’t have picked Vice President Trump to be vice president [if] I didn’t think she was not qualified to be president,” Biden said.
The mistake is just a few hours after Biden was caught on camera with members of NATO and NATO, referring to Ukrainian president Zelesnkyy President Putin and then quickly correcting himself.
Following the press event, a reporter from the 11th asked Biden what he’d do in response to criticisms from Trump himself regarding the incorrect naming of Harris.
Biden declared “Listen to him,” before stepping off the stage.
The NATO summit was an event that his campaign thought would highlight his leadership abilities on the international stage. However, it has been smothered by questions about the likelihood of him surviving the rigors of a campaign that has been bruising and four years as president -doubts raised by the elected Democrats as well as donors and voters.
Questions have been swirling since Biden fell down in during his 26th June debate against the former president Donald Trump. Biden was unable to answer questions during the debate, and has since blamed it all on an unreliable jet lag, a lack of preparation and interruptions by Trump. Biden claimed it was one night of bad luck, but the majority of his followers aren’t convinced.
Since the time, Biden and his team have been working to show that his endurance and mental strength to be a contender in this race. making campaign stops to Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and, later in the week, Michigan. Biden did an interview on talk show interview which aired live at ABC News and has another interview scheduled for Monday with NBC as well. He also has also called in on MSNBC’s Morning Joe this week as well. Also, Biden has been adamant and told his party that he’s going to stay within the contest and that it was time to end the discussion about if he should leave. He has been given full backing from a few important people within the party, however, other people have made public statements that they believe he’ll be defeated by Trump.
Biden stated that he will undergo another test for neurological issues if needed.
The president stated that he’d conducted three neurological examinations during his time in office, which was disclosed to the White House has disclosed. He also said he’d undergo another test if his physician had recommended it.
“I’m good,” he stated. “I’m tested every single day on my neurological capacity in the decisions I make everyday.”
“Every single day I’m surrounded by good docs,” he declared. “If they think I should have a neurological exam again, I’ll do it,” he said.
Biden’s campaign’s co-chair, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan said recently that it “wouldn’t hurt” if Biden had another test.
Biden has said that he must “be a bit more disciplined” in his work schedule
Biden declared that he needed to take a slower pace during the day in a bid to clarify the reports that claimed he said to the national Democratic governors this week that he had to get to bed earlier and avoid events after 8 p.m.
“Instead of my every day starting at 7 and going to bed at midnight, it would be smarter to pace myself a little more,” Biden stated.
Biden stated that his agenda was “full bore” since the debate in June. He also said Trump contrary to his claims has performed “virtually nothing.”
“Where’s Trump been? In his golf cart, filling out the scorecard prior to hitting his tennis ball?” Biden said
Many occasions, Biden threw cold water on the notion that he wasn’t ready for being president or running for the presidency.
“The best way to assure them is the way I assure myself,” Biden stated on how to communicate the Americans that he will not be having an additional “bad night” like he was during the debate. “And that is, am I getting the job done?”
“If you slow your pace and am unable to finish the task it’s a signal that I shouldn’t do it. There’s been no evidence of this. No,” he said.
NPR’s Asma Khalid questioned Biden why he did not make his presidency as a “bridge” to the next generation of Democratic leaders as he had said he would during his 2020 presidential campaign. Biden claimed his reason was the importance of his legacy in terms of issues ranging that range from economics to foreign policy.
Biden also addressed the threat to democracy, and made reference to some recent Supreme Court rulings as well as his Republicans’ Project 2025 plan.
“We’ve had no experience before. This is the second reason I didn’t like you say, hand over the reins to another generation. I have to complete this task. I’m required to complete this job due to the fact that there’s a lot on the line,” Biden said.
Biden promises to stay until polls indicate that ‘there’s no way for you to beat the odds’
Despite Biden’s constant insistence that he’ll stay in the race, a few Democrats like Vermont senator. Peter Welch, have been calling on the president to step down — and have pointed at Harris as the best option to the Democratic Party.
Biden at a number of moments in the press conference praised Harris on her efforts in the field of reproductive rights as well as guns and violence prevention.
“I would not have chosen her if I believed she had the qualifications to serve as president. From the beginning I was clear about it,” he said. “She is competent to run for president. That’s the reason I picked her.”
Biden spoke to reporters, but even if team’s polls indicated that Harris did better than him in a race against Trump but he’d still be on the ballot.
“Unless they came back and said, ‘There’s no way you could win.’ No one’s saying that,” said the man.
Biden has also generally criticized the polling data that’s been released about the race to date Biden said the race wouldn’t actually begin in the coming days after Labor Day. He also said there are a number of candidates that could challenge Trump however they’d need to begin their campaigns from scratch.
“A lot can happen,” he stated. “I believe that I’m the best qualified to run a government. In my opinion, I’m most qualified candidate to win.”