US presidential election - Biden admits mistakes - TV interview as a test of strength
US-President Joe Biden is fighting against challenger Donald Trump on all fronts after his TV debacle to save his campaign. "I had a bad evening. The fact is, I made a mistake", said the Democrat in a radio interview. But he has learned from his father that one must always get back up, the 81-year-old added. Ninety minutes on a TV stage are nothing compared to what he has accomplished in the past three and a half years.
US media report that Biden has admitted fatigue behind closed doors and wants to limit his evening appointments. The Democrat is currently trying to appease critics within his party. Reports of a tired president may not be helpful in this regard. The biggest test for him now is likely to be a planned TV interview.
TV Interview as a Trial by Fire
Biden will give an interview to US broadcaster ABC on Friday, which is scheduled to be aired at prime time (2 a.m. in German night to Saturday). The interview is expected to be recorded in the morning.
The interviewer George Stephanopoulos is a longtime face of the network. In the 1990s, he worked for the then Democratic President Bill Clinton. Biden rarely gives TV interviews. The fact that he feels compelled to do so now shows how serious the situation is. Biden's appearance could be decisive in whether critics in his party quiet down or gain momentum.
Biden is trying to secure a second term in the US election in November and prevent Trump's return to the White House. After his disastrous TV debate performance before a million-strong audience, the 81-year-old must now allow the question of whether he is still the right candidate or if a younger alternative should take his place.
Unrest in the Democratic Party
Behind the scenes, there was initially only grumbling in the Democratic Party. However, critics also spoke out publicly. Biden eventually held crisis talks and spoke with party leaders. He also met with more than 20 Democratic governors at the White House and via the internet and phone to secure support.
Biden's Health in Focus
Biden told governors and governors, according to the "New York Times" and CNN, that he needs to sleep more and work less. This means limiting events after 8 p.m., the media reported, citing unnamed sources. At the same time, he made it clear that he intends to stay in the race. CNN writes that some of the governors were frustrated by Biden's remarks.
Biden reportedly also mentioned during the meeting that he had undergone a medical examination after the TV debate and was doing well. However, his spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre had said hours earlier that he had not seen a doctor. "He didn't go to the doctor. It's just a cold, people. It's just a cold," she said.
Biden spoke roughly during the debate and appeared hoarse. Afterward, he said he had a cold. He tried to explain his disastrous performance, during which he frequently lost the thread, as stress due to long foreign trips before the debate.
The Independence Day, which is traditionally celebrated in the USA on July 4th, was spent by Biden with his family at the White House. In the evening (2 am German Time in the early hours of Friday), Biden will give his traditional speech in relation to the holiday.
Once again, all eyes may be on the 81-year-old Biden. In such speeches, Biden usually does not answer questions and reads his speech from the teleprompter. This reduces the chance for verbal slip-ups.
Trump remains low-key
Biden continues to focus on attacks against his political opponent, the 78-year-old Trump, in his campaign. "We can't and shouldn't let this guy win," he warned in a radio interview with a local station in the US state of Wisconsin.
Trump has been notably quiet in recent days. His approach may be strategic, as the whole country is currently discussing whether Biden is suitable for the presidency. Reports suggest that Republicans hope Biden stays in the race, as they believe this would increase their chances of a Trump victory in the November election.
In the past few weeks, Trump and Biden have been neck and neck in the polls. Trump consistently led by one to two percentage points - despite his scandals and conviction in a New York criminal trial.
Since the television debate, Trump has been able to significantly expand his lead in voter support, according to recent polls. Among Democrats, this increases anxiety - and apparently also the willingness to consider another candidate. The focus is increasingly on Biden's running mate Kamala Harris.
Biden has secured his candidacy at the primaries
The Democrats will officially nominate their presidential candidate during a party convention in Chicago in August. Biden has already amassed the necessary delegate votes, securing his candidacy. He had no serious competition and was considered a shoo-in from the start.
Therefore, only Biden himself can decide to throw in the towel. Observers believe that, should he actually drop out of the race, he would show no signs of weakness right up until the last moment, as this would be disastrous for the polls.
- In the upcoming #USElection2024, Joe Biden is competing against Donald Trump, aiming to secure a second term as the US President.
- Biden will participate in a prime-time interview on ABC Television, conducted by George Stephanopoulos, who worked for Bill Clinton in the 1990s.
- The interview comes after Biden's disappointing TV debate performance, where he admitted making a mistake and feeling fatigued.
- The interview is essential as Biden attempts to ease tensions within his party, following criticism from party members.
- Biden's candidacy has been compromised due to his disastrous performance, prompting calls for a younger alternative to replace him.
- During crisis talks with Democratic leaders, Biden mentioned undergoing a medical examination and assured governors of his continued involvement in the race.
- Despite initial grumbling in the Democratic Party, critics have publicly voiced dissatisfaction with Biden's campaign, and the problem has escalated.
- The result of Biden's interview with George Stephanopoulos could potentially sway the party's stance or strengthen the opposition's momentum.
- The US media is closely monitoring Biden's performance, as it could significantly impact the outcome of the presidential election and the Democratic Party's unity.
- In the event of Biden dropping out of the race, observers believe he would hide his true feelings up until the last moment to avoid negatively impacting the election polls.
