US election campaign: Biden remains combative in debate about his candidacy
"I go nowhere," said Biden at the 4th of July celebration - in response to a supporter's call for him to "keep fighting." Previously, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre had also stated that Biden would "absolutely not" withdraw.
During a flight to a campaign event in the state of Wisconsin on Friday, Biden intended to give an interview to George Stephanopoulos of ABC News. He wanted to clear up the doubts about his mental fitness raised by his disastrous performance in the TV debate with rival Donald Trump. The interview was scheduled to be broadcast in full length on Friday evening (local time).
Biden appeared tired and sluggish during the TV debate with Trump. He spoke in a hoarse and often faint voice, stuttered, muddled his words, and left sentences incomplete. Since the debate, there has been a heated discussion among Democrats about whether they should replace Biden with another candidate for the presidential election on November 5.
In the polls since the debate, Trump's lead over Biden has grown. Three Democratic congressmen publicly urged Biden to withdraw from the race. However, Biden received public support from the democratic governors at a meeting on Wednesday.
The strength of this support was, however, unclear. The "New York Times" and CNN reported on Thursday that Biden had told the governors he needed to sleep more and reduce events after 8 p.m. Some governors reportedly reacted unfavorably to this announcement, which could fuel doubts about whether he is up to the demands of the presidency.
Biden was showered with insults from his expected Republican challenger Trump on Independence Day. In an online video showing Biden sitting in a golf cart, Trump denounced his successor as an "old, decrepit pile of junk," whom he had "kicked like a dog" in the debate.
Trump, who is 78 years old, also accused his opponent of whining like a dog during the debate. In another message on his Truth Social network, Trump challenged Biden to another TV debate, this time "without any taboos." Trump was referring to the strict rules of the debate on the previous Thursday.
Another TV debate between Biden and Trump is planned, but not until September 10. Trump also spoke of Biden's candidacy being "over": "He's dropping out. Yes, I forced him out," said the Republican.
Trump expressed the expectation that Vice President Kamala Harris would replace Biden - and attacked her fiercely: "She's that bad, she's that embarrassing." However, Harris is not the only potential replacement candidate mentioned. Others include the governors of California and Illinois, Gavin Newsom and J.B. Pritzker, and the governor of Michigan, Gretchen Whitmer.
- The US President, Joe Biden, had a scheduled interview with George Stephanopoulos from the American Broadcasting Company during his campaign event in Wisconsin, aiming to address concerns about his mental fitness after a less-than-impressive debate performance against Donald Trump.
- CNN reported that during the meeting with democratic governors, Biden expressed his need to get more sleep and reduce late-night events, which some governors perceived negatively, fueling further doubts about his ability to handle the demands of the US President's term of office.
- Biden's disastrous performance at the presidential election debate with Trump saw him speak in a hoarse and faint voice, stutter, muddle his words, and leave sentences incomplete, sparking heated discussions among Democrats about replacing him with another candidate.
- In an Independence Day message, Donald Trump, Trump's expected Republican challenger, insulted Biden, calling him an "old, decrepit pile of junk" and saying he had "kicked like a dog" during their previous debate.
- Trump also accused Biden of whining like a dog during the debate and challenged him to another TV debate without any rules, while Biden and Trump are set to face each other in another debate on September 10.
- After Biden's underwhelming debate, three Democratic congressmen urged him to withdraw from the presidential election on November 5, but Biden received public support from democratic governors at a meeting on Wednesday.
- Potential replacement candidates mentioned for Biden in the US election campaign include Vice President Kamala Harris, governors of California and Illinois, Gavin Newsom and J.B. Pritzker, and the governor of Michigan, Gretchen Whitmer.
