Joe Biden Back On Campaign Trail As Pressure Mounts
Jul 7, 2024
US President Joe Biden hits the campaign trail Sunday, eager to save his re-election bid as senior Democrats meet to discuss calls for him to exit the race.
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The 81-year-old Democrat starts a busy week with two campaign rallies in Pennsylvania, followed by hosting the NATO leaders' summit in Washington.
He faces growing pressure to drop out after a disastrous debate with Donald Trump last month raised concerns about his age and ability to serve another term.
Biden remains defiant, declaring at rallies, to reporters, and on social media that he is fit to serve, the only one who can defeat Trump, and staying in the race.
“I defeated Trump in 2020. I will defeat him again in 2024." Biden's campaign posted on social media Saturday.
A Friday interview with ABC News hasn't eased concerns. His next major test is a Thursday press conference at the NATO summit.
Five Democratic lawmakers have called on Biden to drop out, and the dissent is growing.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has scheduled a virtual meeting of senior Democrats for Sunday to discuss the path forward. Democrat Senator Mark Warner is reportedly planning a similar forum in the Senate.
First Lady Jill Biden, reportedly urging her husband to stay in the race, will campaign in Georgia, Florida, and North Carolina on Monday.
After Sunday's rallies in Philadelphia and Harrisburg, the president will pause his campaign for the NATO summit starting Tuesday.
There, he must reassure allies worried about a potential Trump victory in November.
The 78-year-old Republican has criticized NATO as an unfair burden on the US, admired Russian leader Vladimir Putin, and claimed he could quickly end the war in Ukraine, now in its third year.
For now, top Democrats are keeping any discontent with Biden private.
With election day just four months away, any decision to replace Biden as the nominee must happen soon, with the party under scrutiny for signs of rebellion.
Meanwhile, Biden and his campaign plan to persevere. They've launched a robust strategy for July, with numerous TV ads and visits to crucial states.
Biden plans to visit the southwest during the Republican convention from July 15-18, where Trump will be officially nominated.
In a critical ABC News interview on Friday, Biden dismissed declining poll numbers and concerns about his mental and physical fitness following his June 27 debate with Trump.
He attributed the debate performance to a severe cold and described it as a "bad night," not a sign of declining mental and physical abilities.
Critics remain unconvinced, arguing that Biden can struggle to communicate without a teleprompter. During the interview, his responses were hesitant and hard to follow, despite his attempts to downplay concerns about his mental sharpness and dismiss the idea of his party replacing him.
"I'd drop out if God told me to," he said. "But that's not happening."
