Biden Enters Crucial Phase for His Troubled Presidential Campaign
President Joe Biden began a critical phase on Thursday to rescue his struggling reelection campaign, amid concerns that he has only days to prove his capability before losing Democratic support. Following a poor debate performance against Republican Donald Trump last week, some financial backers have postponed or canceled fundraisers, according to a source who spoke to The Associated Press under anonymity.
At a July Fourth barbecue on the White House South Lawn, Biden reassured attendees, saying, “I’m not going anywhere.” During evening fireworks, he stood with his family and Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff. Harris held Biden’s hand high and hugged him, showing strong support.
In a Wednesday night meeting with Democratic governors, Biden admitted he needs more sleep and should limit evening events to be more rested, as per three anonymous sources familiar with the meeting. One source mentioned Biden joked that while his health was fine, his brain faced challenges. California Gov. Gavin Newsom, present at the meeting, remarked that Biden’s comments were lighthearted and emphasized the importance of being fit and rested.
Newsom, campaigning for Biden in Michigan, added, “I like when a president acknowledges they’re human.” Biden emphasized that more than his political future is at stake, citing democracy, freedom, and the economy as being on the line in a Wisconsin radio interview aired Thursday. This interview was part of a media blitz recognizing the significance of the moment for his campaign.
At the barbecue, Biden greeted military families from a lectern before mingling with the crowd. He then grabbed a microphone, explaining the need to move inside to allow more people to join the event. A supporter’s shout of “Keep up the fight!” was met with Biden’s response, “You got me, man.”
Biden also indirectly referenced Trump, noting Trump’s 2018 absence from a World War I cemetery in France, which Biden recently visited. Biden’s campaign schedule includes a Friday visit to Wisconsin and an interview with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos for a prime-time special. He plans to be in Philadelphia on Sunday and hold a full news conference during next week’s NATO summit in Washington.
The future of Biden’s campaign remains uncertain if he doesn’t perform well in the ABC interview. Discussions about potential replacements are growing. Nevertheless, Biden has conveyed his determination to continue in conversations with Democratic governors, allies, and campaign staff.
Time is limited for any potential change, as the Democratic National Committee plans a virtual roll call for the formal nomination before the national convention starting August 19. Biden expressed pride in running for reelection, highlighting his fulfilled promises and dismissing his debate performance as a single bad night that doesn’t negate his three and a half years of achievements.