Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Biden Says 'No Indication of Any Serious Condition' in ABC Interview as He Fights to Stay in Race
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 6 months ago on
July 5, 2024

In an ABC interview, Joe Biden insists he is running, asserting “I am running, and I'm going to win again.” (AP/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

MADISON, Wis. — President Joe Biden, fighting to save his endangered reelection effort Friday, said his disastrous debate performance last week was a “bad episode” and there were “no indications of any serious condition” in a highly anticipated ABC interview that was seen as a significant test of his fitness to run for office.

“I didn’t listen to my instincts in terms of preparing,” Biden told ABC’s George Stephanopoulos in an excerpt that aired Friday evening.

Yet Biden’s rigorous efforts to course correct from his debate performance were not yet quelling internal party frustrations, with one influential Democratic senator working on a nascent push that would encourage the president to exit the race and Democrats quietly chatting about where they would go next if the president drops out — or what it would mean if he stays in.

Still, in Wisconsin, Biden was focused on proving his capacity to remain as president. When asked whether he would halt his campaign, he told reporters he was “completely ruling that out” and said he is “positive” he could serve for another four years. At a rally in front of hundreds of supporters he acknowledged his subpar debate performance but insisted, “I am running, and I’m going to win again.”

“I beat Donald Trump,” a forceful Biden said, as the crowd gathered in a local middle school cheered and waved campaign signs. “I will beat him again.”

Biden, relying on a teleprompter for his remarks, attacked his presumptive Republican challenger almost immediately, laying into Trump by pointing out that the former president once said that “George Washington’s army won the revolution by taking control of the airports from the British.”

Amid laughter, Biden continued, “Talk about me misspeaking.”

Biden’s Rally and Upcoming Interview

In his speech, Biden tried to flip the questions swirling about his age, asking the crowd rhetorically whether he was “too old” to have passed gun legislation, created jobs and helped ease student loan debt — while suggesting he’d do more in a second presidential term.

The rally preceded the interview that could be a watershed moment for Biden, who is under pressure to bow out of the campaign after his rocky debate performance against Republican Donald Trump ignited concern that the 81-year-old Democrat is not up for the job for another four years.

While private angst among Democratic lawmakers, donors and strategists is running deep, most in the party have held public fire as they wait to see if the president can restore confidence with his weekend travel and his handling of the interview, airing in full Friday night.

To that end, Sen. Mark Warner reached out to fellow senators throughout this week to discuss whether to ask Biden to exit the race, according to three people familiar with the effort who requested anonymity to talk about private conversations. The Virginia Democrat’s moves are notable given his chairmanship of the Senate Intelligence Committee and his reputation as a lawmaker supportive of Biden who has working relationships with colleagues in both parties. Warner’s effort was first reported by The Washington Post.

Democratic Senators’ Strategy and House Democrats’ Plan

The strategy remains fluid. One of the people with knowledge of Warner’s effort said there are enough Senate Democrats concerned enough about Biden’s capacity to run for reelection to take some sort of action, although there was yet no consensus on what that plan would be. Some of the Democratic senators could meet as soon as Monday on how to move forward.

The top Democrats on House committees are planning to meet virtually Sunday to discuss the situation, according to a person familiar with the gathering granted anonymity to talk about it.

Meanwhile, at least four House Democrats have called for Biden to step down as the nominee, with Rep. Mike Quigley of Illinois joining Massachusetts Rep. Seth Moulton, Texas Rep. Lloyd Doggett and Arizona Rep. Raúl Grijalva in pushing for an alternative. While not going that far, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey said in a carefully worded statement Friday that Biden now has a decision to make on “the best way forward.”

“Over the coming days, I urge him to listen to the American people and carefully evaluate whether he remains our best hope to defeat Donald Trump,” Healey said.

There were also a few signs of discontent at Biden’s campaign rally Friday, with one supporter onstage waving a sign that read “Pass the torch Joe” as the president came out. His motorcade was also greeted at the middle school by a few people urging him to move on.

But others were pleased. Rebecca Green, a 52-year-old environmental scientist from Madison, said she found Biden’s energy reassuring. “We were just waiting for him to come out strong and fighting again, the way we know he is,” she said.

Many Democratic lawmakers, who are hearing from constituents at home during the holiday week, are deeply frustrated yet split on whether Biden should stay or go. Privately, discussions among the House Democrats flared this week as word spread that some of them were drafting public letters suggesting the president should quit the race.

Yet pushback from other House Democrats was fierce.

“Any ‘leader’ signing a letter calling for President Biden to drop out needs to get their priorities straight and stop undermining this incredible actual leader who has delivered real results for our country,” said Rep. Frederica Wilson, D-Fla., an influential member of the Congressional Black Caucus.

Biden appears to have pulled his family closer while attempting to prove that he’s still the Democrats’ best option for competing in November’s election.

The ubiquitous presence of Hunter Biden in the West Wing since the debate has become an uncomfortable dynamic for many staffers, according to two Democrats close to the White House who requested anonymity to discuss the sensitive matter.

For many staffers, the sight of Hunter Biden, just weeks after his conviction on felony gun charges, taking a larger role in advising his father has been unsettling and a questionable choice, they said.

Biden’s reelection campaign is pushing ahead with aggressive plans despite the uncertainty. It plans to pair his in-person events with a fresh $50 million ad campaign this month meant to capitalize on high viewership moments like the Summer Olympics that begin in Paris on July 26.

Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, first lady Jill Biden and second gentleman Doug Emhoff are scheduled to travel to every battleground state this month, with Biden in Pennsylvania on Sunday. In a memo released Friday, the campaign also emphasized that Biden would participate in “frequent off-the-cuff moments” –- once a hallmark of the gregarious, glad-handling politician’s career that have dwindled throughout his presidency.

For Biden, every moment now is critical to restoring the lost confidence stemming from his shaky performance in Atlanta last week. Yet the president continued to make slipups that did not help that effort.

In a hastily organized gathering with more than 20 Democratic governors Wednesday evening, Biden acknowledged he needs to sleep more and limit evening events so he can be rested for the job, according to three people granted anonymity to speak about the private meeting.

In trying to explain away those comments, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stressed that Biden “works around the clock” but that he “also recognizes the importance of striking a balance and taking care of himself.”

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, who attended the meeting, said Biden “certainly engaged with us on complicated matters.”

“But then again, this is something that he needs to not just reassure Democratic governors on, but he needs to reassure the American people,” Beshear said.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

What Is Israel’s US Funded Plan for the Middle East?

DON'T MISS

Caitlin Clark Honored as AP Female Athlete of the Year

DON'T MISS

Rams Don’t Dominate, but They’re Mastered Winning Ugly

DON'T MISS

What Goes on at Fresno County School Board Meetings? It’s Hard to Tell

DON'T MISS

Elaborate Holiday Light Displays Are Making Spirits Bright in a Big Way

DON'T MISS

Bethlehem Marks a Second Subdued Christmas During the War in Gaza

DON'T MISS

The Fastest Spacecraft Ever Heads for Its Close-Up With the Sun

DON'T MISS

Survey: Small Businesses Are Feeling More Optimistic About the Economy After the Election

DON'T MISS

Heavy Travel Day off to a Rough Start After American Airlines Briefly Grounds All Flights

DON'T MISS

Global Monitor Says Famine Is Weeks Away in North Gaza. A US Diplomat Calls Warning ‘Irresponsible’

UP NEXT

Caitlin Clark Honored as AP Female Athlete of the Year

UP NEXT

Rams Don’t Dominate, but They’re Mastered Winning Ugly

UP NEXT

What Goes on at Fresno County School Board Meetings? It’s Hard to Tell

UP NEXT

Elaborate Holiday Light Displays Are Making Spirits Bright in a Big Way

UP NEXT

Bethlehem Marks a Second Subdued Christmas During the War in Gaza

UP NEXT

The Fastest Spacecraft Ever Heads for Its Close-Up With the Sun

UP NEXT

Survey: Small Businesses Are Feeling More Optimistic About the Economy After the Election

UP NEXT

Heavy Travel Day off to a Rough Start After American Airlines Briefly Grounds All Flights

UP NEXT

Global Monitor Says Famine Is Weeks Away in North Gaza. A US Diplomat Calls Warning ‘Irresponsible’

UP NEXT

California Residents on Edge as High Surf and Flooding Threats Persist on Christmas Eve

What Goes on at Fresno County School Board Meetings? It’s Hard to Tell

1 hour ago

Elaborate Holiday Light Displays Are Making Spirits Bright in a Big Way

1 hour ago

Bethlehem Marks a Second Subdued Christmas During the War in Gaza

1 hour ago

The Fastest Spacecraft Ever Heads for Its Close-Up With the Sun

2 hours ago

Survey: Small Businesses Are Feeling More Optimistic About the Economy After the Election

2 hours ago

Heavy Travel Day off to a Rough Start After American Airlines Briefly Grounds All Flights

2 hours ago

Global Monitor Says Famine Is Weeks Away in North Gaza. A US Diplomat Calls Warning ‘Irresponsible’

2 hours ago

California Residents on Edge as High Surf and Flooding Threats Persist on Christmas Eve

2 hours ago

Stock Market Today: Wall Street Holds Near Breakeven Ahead of Christmas

2 hours ago

Fresno Authorities Seeks Public’s Help to Locate Family of Deceased Man

2 hours ago

What Is Israel’s US Funded Plan for the Middle East?

In a recent interview, renowned economist Jeffrey Sachs outlined his concerns about the possibility of war with Iran, framing it as the culm...

6 minutes ago

Economist Jeffrey Sachs warns of potential US-Iran war in an interview with Tucker Carlson (pictured), citing decades of Israeli-influenced foreign policy in the Middle East. (Shutterstock)
6 minutes ago

What Is Israel’s US Funded Plan for the Middle East?

39 minutes ago

Caitlin Clark Honored as AP Female Athlete of the Year

Rams
44 minutes ago

Rams Don’t Dominate, but They’re Mastered Winning Ugly

1 hour ago

What Goes on at Fresno County School Board Meetings? It’s Hard to Tell

1 hour ago

Elaborate Holiday Light Displays Are Making Spirits Bright in a Big Way

1 hour ago

Bethlehem Marks a Second Subdued Christmas During the War in Gaza

An undated photo provided by NASA/Naval Research Laboratory/Parker Solar Probe shows an unprocessed image from the WISPR instrument of the comet NEOWISE on July 5, 2020, shortly after its closest approach to the sun. (NASA/Johns Hopkins APL/Naval Research Lab/Parker Solar Probe/Brendan Gallagher via The New York Times)
2 hours ago

The Fastest Spacecraft Ever Heads for Its Close-Up With the Sun

2 hours ago

Survey: Small Businesses Are Feeling More Optimistic About the Economy After the Election

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend