Joe Biden confidently dismissed the idea of ending his run for the US presidency, stating he would only bow out if there was divine intervention. Biden, who is the standing president, participated in a straight-up 20-minute interview, answering queries about his physical and mental health, broadcasted entirely unedited according to the presenter, George Stephanopoulos. His fellow Democrats closely watched the evening’s broadcast, which took place at 9pm following an episode of the TV show Jeopardy.
Contrary to the White House’s insistence that the Atlanta debate had been a “poor evening” for Biden, he appeared invigorated and combative. He was quick to take responsibility for his performance a week prior, emphasising his determination to defeat Donald Trump in the November elections. Biden refused to be swayed by disappointing polling numbers, arguing that his track record in office spoke for itself. His decision to remain in the race was supported by many Democratic governors and colleagues.
In a conversation with the host, Biden famously asserted, “If God Himself told me to end the campaign, then I would. But He hasn’t appeared. It’s all hypothetical, George.” Displaying impressive political resilience and acumen, Biden managed to maintain a straightforward demeanor throughout the interview, managing to steer clear of tangential arguments.
The notion that his respected Democratic colleagues, who praised his four-year term, now wished for his gracious exit seemed to leave the president astounded. His reaction to the news about Senator Mark Warner’s intent to formally request his withdrawal was a lopsided smile. In response, Biden displayed his respect and understanding for Warner, mentioning they had opposing viewpoints, but he respected them nonetheless.
Despite his peers reflecting on his declining poll numbers, even with his opponent being a convicted criminal and the dropping of inflation, Biden remained undeterred. He referred back to 2020 when everyone was doubtful of his victory, but he defied their expectations. He shrugged off the predictions of a red wave in 2022, stating that he was certain of his ability to secure a win.
When asked by Stephanopoulos if he was willing to go through an independent medical examination and reveal the results to the public, he sidestepped the enquiry. In what could be a significant moment from the interview, Biden was asked his feelings on the prospect of facing defeat in November, with Donald Trump reclaiming the presidency. He stated that as long as he knew he had given his utmost, that was what mattered most.
His focus on his personal effort, his best shot at 81, may not sit well with his peers who are worried about the bigger picture – securing victory against the Republicans. This inadvertent spotlighting of personal reflections could potentially ratchet up the party’s unease before the busy start at Capitol Hill on Monday.
Biden seemed ensconced in a psychological bubble, protected by a small group of family and advisors, far removed from the worrying trends shown in poll results which could potentially spell disaster for the party.
This portrayal of the Democratic candidacy being in a state of chaos and confusion loomed large. Biden spent a rigorous day on the campaign trail, notably making a stinging twenty-minute speech in Madison, Wisconsin targeted directly at Donald Trump. He sought to re-establish his political image. Just before stepping onto Air Force One, Biden dismissed the notion of exiting the race, stating, “I’ve already had a victory over him and have achieved more than any other president.”
When questioned about the opinions expressed in the surveys, hefires back with a sulky sense of straightforwardness that had been conspicuously lacking in his battles with Donald Trump. “Up to this point, you’ve been consistently mistaken. You got 2020 all wrong. You made an error in 2022 by predicting our downfall. Do you recall your ‘red wave’ blunder? You misjudged 2023 as well… thus, we’ll just have to wait and watch,” he claims.
Yet, here lies the problem. For a large number of benefactors and Democratic politicians, the thought of procrastinating is growing increasingly unnerving. In some aspects, the short twenty-minute ABC chat proved to be the most damaging outcome: it offered an alluring peak of Biden – dedicated, cheerful, spirited, and able to flaunt a lengthy and illustrious history of progressive and societal victories, inclusive of giving rise to 206,000 jobs in just this month.
This scenario puts the Democratic candidate’s bid in a peculiar and turbulent position. It was dismal and humbling to observe an American who has attained such eminence having to defend his fundamental abilities on national television. However, that’s part of the job. As Philip Roth once expressed: aging isn’t a struggle, it is a slaughter.
Hence, Biden marches into the weekend resilient as ever, firmly asserting that he isn’t fooling himself; he’s being completely realistic about his ability to continue this journey for another four years.
“I sure am, because not meeting the challenge is the last thing I desire,” he disclosed to his host.
“As numerous senior economists and foreign policy experts have expressed, if I step down now, I’ll be remembered as a rather successful president. Nobody ever believed that I could achieve what I have,” he continues.
“And are you genuinely acknowledging your capacity to defeat Donald Trump at this point in time?” George Stephanopoulos inquires.
In response to that, Joe Biden’s eyes open wide and for a moment, the years seemed to dissolve.
“Yes. Yes, absolutely,” he affirms.