2024 election updates: Biden returns to the campaign trial following press conference
Last updated: Friday, July 12, 2024 11:09PM GMT
Em Nguyen has the latest on the state of the Biden campaign amidst widespread calls for him to step down.
President Joe Biden is facing a critical point in his reelection bid as Democratic calls for him to exit the 2024 race continue to mount despite his efforts to shut them down.
A poor debate performance against Donald Trump reignited questions about Biden's age and fitness to carry out his campaign and serve another four years. Biden has defiantly insisted he is staying the course, telling lawmakers this week he is not going anywhere.
Thursday evening, Biden held his first post-debate news conference. And while it went better than his debate, it also wasn't a masterclass. Now, Democrats are worried they're right where they started before he spoke Thursday night.
Biden says won't leave the presidential race as long as he has a chance to win
The president insisted that he has no plans to drop out to make room for Vice President Kamala Harris or anyone else.
Asked if he would considering bowing out before November if shown data that Harris could perform better against Trump, Biden responded, "No, unless they came back and said, 'There's no way you can win.'"
"No one's saying that," Biden said. "No poll says that."
He conceded that there are probably other candidates "who can beat Trump" but pointed to his campaign's strong fundraising and operations in battleground states, noting that anyone other than him would have "to start from scratch."
Jul 12, 2024, 12:39 AM GMT
Biden cedes 'others could beat Trump' but believes he's most qualified
"I think I am the best qualified to win," Biden said as his news conference neared an end. "But there are other people who could beat Trump, too."
"But it would be hard to start from scratch," he quickly added. "We talk about money raised. We are not doing bad. We've got about $220 million in the bank. We are doing well."
President Joe Biden speaks at a news conference following the NATO Summit in Washington, Thursday, July 11, 2024.
Jul 12, 2024, 12:37 AM GMT
Biden on cognitive test: 'No matter what I did, not everyone is going to be satisfied'
Asked if he is going to take a cognitive test before the election amid questions about his mental fitness in the wake of the debate, Biden said that if his doctor told him he needed to, he would.
Biden said he has taken three "significant" neurological exams during his presidency, most recently in February.
"They say I am in good shape," he said, reiterating that he is tested "every single day" on his neurological capacity in his job.
The president added, "No matter what I did, not everyone is going to be satisfied."
Jul 12, 2024, 12:37 AM GMT
Biden says he is determined to seek reelection: 'I gotta finish this job'
The president is reiterating his determination to run for reelection, despite the growing number of Democratic lawmakers and others who are calling for him to step aside.
"I think it's important that I allay fears," he said, referring to campaign appearances on Friday in Detroit and next week in Texas and Nevada.
"I gotta finish this job," he said. "I gotta finish this job, because there's so much at stake."
