US President Joe Biden was back on the campaign trail Sunday, determined to salvage his re-election bid as senior Democrats discuss increasing calls for him to exit the White House race. The 81-year-old Democrat spoke at a predominantly Black church in Philadelphia, part of a two-stop tour in the battleground state of Pennsylvania, before hosting the NATO leaders’ summit in Washington later this week.
Biden is campaigning under intense scrutiny, facing mounting pressure to drop out after a challenging debate against Donald Trump last month raised concerns about his age and ability to serve another four years. Despite the criticism, Biden has remained resolute, asserting his fitness to serve and his belief that he is the only one capable of defeating Trump.
So far, five Democratic lawmakers have urged Biden to withdraw, with dissent slowly growing. On Sunday, two high-profile congressional Democrats stopped short of asking Biden to step aside but emphasized the need for him to address voters’ concerns about his age.
“There’s only one reason” the race between Trump and Biden “is close, and that’s the president’s age,” Representative Adam Schiff told NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
As some speculate about Biden handing off the campaign to Vice President Kamala Harris, Schiff added: “I think she very well could win overwhelmingly.”
Democratic Senator Chris Murphy meanwhile said “the president needs to do more,” including unscripted events like town hall gatherings, to reassure voters he has the mental acuity and physical fitness for a second term.
“This week is going to be absolutely critical,” Murphy told CNN’s Sunday talk show “State of the Union.”
Those comments came as House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries scheduled a virtual meeting of senior Democratic representatives for Sunday to discuss the best way forward. Additionally, Democratic Senator Mark Warner is reportedly working to convene a similar forum in the upper chamber.
First Lady Jill Biden, who according to some US media reports is urging her husband to stay in the race, is set to campaign for him on Monday in Georgia, Florida, and North Carolina. However, after Sunday’s stops in Philadelphia and Harrisburg, the president will have to step away from the campaign trail for the NATO summit beginning Tuesday.
At the summit, Biden will need to reassure allies at a time when many European countries fear a Trump victory in November. The 78-year-old Republican has long criticized the transatlantic defense alliance as an unfair burden on the United States, expressed admiration for Russian leader Vladimir Putin, and insisted he could quickly end the conflict in Ukraine, where Moscow’s invasion is now in its third year.
– ‘Lord Almighty’ –
For now, Democratic heavyweights are largely keeping any simmering discontent with their leader under wraps—at least in public. However, with election day just four months away, any move to replace Biden as the nominee would need to be made soon, and the party will be closely watched for any signs of more open rebellion.
Meanwhile, Biden and his team seem to be adopting a strategy of riding out the storm. The campaign has unveiled an intense battle plan for July, including a barrage of TV ads and trips to key states. This includes a visit to the US Southwest during the Republican convention from July 15-18, where Trump is set to be anointed the party’s official presidential nominee.
In what was billed as a make-or-break interview with ABC News on Friday, Biden flatly dismissed concerns over his falling poll numbers and fitness for office, which were triggered by his poor performance against Trump on June 27. Although some of his answers were tentative or meandering, he deflected questions about his mental acuity and dismissed the notion that his party would consider replacing him.
“If the Lord Almighty came down and said, ‘Joe, get out of the race,’ I’d get out of the race,” he said.
“But the Lord Almighty is not coming down.”
