CHIGOZIE AMADI
United States President, Mr. Joe Biden, has said nothing that will make him consider quitting the presidential race except God.
There has been mounting pressure from within the Democratic Party on Biden to step aside, after a shaky debate performance with Donald Trump, the presumptive nominee of the Republican Party.
After a shaky performance at the presidential debate with former President and Republican candidate, Donald Trump, on June 27, there have been calls for Biden to step aside.
Despite some Democratic officials and donors suggesting he step aside for a younger candidate following a poorly received debate performance against Trump, Biden remained defiant.
He attributed his debate struggles to exhaustion and a cold, asserting, “I don’t think anybody’s more qualified to be president or win this race than me.”
Biden also dismissed criticisms that he is too old and feeble to run for president for a second time, after the White House said he is not backing down from the race despite growing concerns.
During the interview, Biden sought to dismiss fears about losing ground to Trump, describing the race as a “toss-up” according to pollsters. He dismissed the notion of stepping down, saying, “If the Lord Almighty came down and said, ‘Joe, get out of the race,’ I’d get out of the race. The Lord Almighty’s not coming down.”
At a rally in Madison, Wisconsin, Biden appeared more energetic, directly addressing the debate aftermath. “Ever since then, there’s been a lot of speculation. What’s Joe going to do?” he said. “Here’s my answer. I am running and going to win again.”
Biden’s rally performance was in stark contrast to the debate, where he had several moments of forgetfulness. “I see all these stories that say I’m too old,” he said, defending his record. “Was I too old to create 15 million jobs? Was I too old to erase student debt for five million Americans?”
The rally and interview come at a critical juncture for Biden’s campaign, with significant pressure from within the Democratic Party. Reports suggest that House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has scheduled a meeting to discuss Biden’s candidacy, and several House Democrats have publicly called for him to step down.
Despite this, no senior Democrats have formally requested his withdrawal. Biden’s campaign is planning a vigorous response, with Vice-President Kamala Harris and First Lady Jill Biden set to campaign in swing states.
“I mean if the Lord Almighty came down and said, ‘Joe, get outta the race’, I would get outta the race. The Lord Almighty’s not coming down. I mean, these hypotheticals. I don’t think anybody is more qualified to be president or win this race than me.
“Look, I’m running again because I think I understand best what has to be done to take this nation to a completely new level. We are on our way. We are on our way.”
“I see all these stories that say I am too old.. was I too old to create 15 million jobs? Was I too old to erase student debt for five million Americans? Do you think I’m too old to beat Donald Trump?” he asked.
Senator Mark Warner is reportedly considering forming a group to urge Biden to withdraw, reflecting deep concerns within the party. Meanwhile, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has urged Biden to “carefully evaluate” his candidacy, though she affirmed her commitment to defeating Trump.
