President Joe Biden declared his intent to triumph over Republican adversary Donald Trump in the upcoming November presidential election, showing no indication that he would contemplate withdrawing from the race following a lackluster debate performance that disheartened his Democratic colleagues. "I'm aware, as you can imagine, that I'm not a young man," Biden exuberantly stated at a rally the day after the direct confrontation with his Republican opponent, which was largely perceived as a setback for the 81-year-old president. "I don't move as effortlessly as I once did, I don't articulate as fluidly as I used to, and my debating skills aren't what they were," he admitted, as the audience chanted "four more years." "I wouldn't be seeking re-election if I didn't wholeheartedly believe I could fulfill this role. The implications are too significant," Biden emphasized.
Biden's verbal miscues and sometimes rambling answers during the debate escalated voter anxieties that he might not be capable of serving another four-year term, leading some Democrats to question whether they could substitute him as their candidate for the November 5 U.S. election. Campaign spokesperson Michael Tyler confirmed that there were no discussions about that scenario. "We prefer to have one subpar evening rather than a candidate with a flawed vision for the nation's future," he informed journalists aboard Air Force One. The campaign organized an "all hands on deck" gathering on Friday to assure staff that Biden was not exiting the race, according to two individuals privy to the meeting. Despite Trump, 78, disseminating a series of untruths throughout the debate, the subsequent attention was predominantly focused on Biden, particularly among Democrats.
Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic leader in the U.S. House of Representatives, evaded a direct response when queried about his confidence in Biden's candidacy. "I support the ticket. I support the Senate Democratic majority. We're committed to reclaiming the House in November. Thank you, everyone," he told the press. Some Democrats similarly avoided directly addressing whether Biden should remain in the race. "That's the president's decision," Democratic Senator Jack Reed stated to a local TV station in Rhode Island. However, several prominent party figures, including former presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, expressed their continued support for Biden. "Bad debate nights occur. Trust me, I've been there. But this election remains a choice between someone who has dedicated his life to the common citizen and someone who is solely self-interested," former Democratic President Barack Obama posted on X.
The New York Times editorial board, which supported Biden in 2020, urged him to withdraw from the race to enhance the Democratic Party's prospects of defeating Trump by selecting an alternative candidate. "The most significant public service Mr. Biden can now offer is to declare that he will not seek re-election," the editorial stated. The Biden campaign announced it had raised $14 million on Thursday and Friday, including its strongest hour of fundraising immediately following the Thursday night debate. The Trump campaign reported raising $8 million on the night of the debate. A potential positive for Biden: preliminary viewership figures indicated that only 48 million Americans watched the debate, significantly less than the 73 million who observed the candidates' previous face-off in 2020.
Biden, already the oldest U.S. president in history, encountered minimal opposition during the party's prolonged nominating process and has garnered sufficient backing to secure his position as the Democratic nominee. Trump also swiftly overcame his intra-party challengers early in the year, setting the stage for an extended and acrimonious general election battle. Should Biden step down, the party would have less than two months to select another nominee at its national convention, which commences on August 19—a potentially complex process that could involve Kamala Harris, the nation's first Black female vice president, competing against governors and other officials who have been suggested as potential replacements.
At a rally in Chesapeake, Virginia, Trump addressed supporters, claiming a "substantial victory against a man intent on dismantling our country." "Joe Biden's issue isn't his age; it's his competence," Trump stated. His advisors believed the debate would strengthen their chances in Democratic-leaning states like Virginia, which hasn't supported a Republican presidential candidate since 2004. Prior to the event, some Trump supporters expressed concern over Biden's weak showing. "I'm worried they might replace him with someone more formidable," said Mike Boatman, who claimed to have attended over 90 Trump rallies. Trump fundraisers reported receiving enthusiastic calls from donors. "Anyone involved in fundraising knows there are pivotal moments to approach donors, and this is one of those moments," said Ed McMullen, who served as ambassador to Switzerland during Trump's presidency.
Questions about Trump's suitability for office have also surfaced due to his recent conviction in New York for concealing a hush money payment to a porn star, his attempts to subvert the 2020 election, and his tumultuous tenure in office. He is slated to be sentenced on July 11, just days before his party officially nominates him. He still faces three additional criminal indictments, though none are expected to go to trial before November. Biden's uncertain performance in the debate elicited shocked reactions globally on Friday, prompting public demands for him to withdraw and likely leaving some of America's closest allies bracing for Trump's potential return.
