US President Joe Biden, 81, declared that only the “Lord Almighty” could convince him to leave the presidential race, as he resisted multiple attempts to discuss his response if Democratic allies questioned his candidacy over health concerns.
In a Friday evening interview with ABC News, Biden, facing scrutiny about his mental state, steadfastly refused to address how he would react if asked to bow out. “If the Lord Almighty said, ‘Joe get out of the race’, then I would get out of the race. But the Lord Almighty’s not coming down,” he asserted.
Biden denied reports that Democratic leaders, including Hakeem Jeffries, were urging him to step aside. “I’ve met with them. I’ve talked with them regularly,” he stated, listing extended conversations with party leaders like Jim Clyburn and Chuck Schumer.
When asked what he would do if those leaders requested he step aside, Biden responded, “I’m not going to answer that question. It’s not going to happen.”
Debates and Polls
Biden defended his debate performance against Donald Trump last week, dismissing criticisms and asserting that poll reports of his declining popularity had been exaggerated. “All the pollsters I talk to tell me it’s a toss-up,” he said, countering a FiveThirtyEight polling aggregation that shows him trailing Trump by two points nationally.
Health Defenses
Biden blamed his debate performance on a severe cold and overworking, not mental infirmity. “I was sick. I was feeling terrible,” he explained, describing medical consultations and tests. He attributed his discomfort on stage to Trump’s interruptions, which he said distracted him despite the moderator’s efforts to control the debate.
Calls for Cognitive Testing
Responding to inquiries about his cognitive abilities, Biden maintained that he demonstrates his mental fitness through daily work and noted, “No one said I had to,” regarding taking a cognitive test.
Party Reactions
Despite Biden’s explanations, critics within the Democratic Party, such as former Obama adviser David Axelrod, remain concerned. Axelrod commented, “He is dangerously out-of-touch with the concerns people have about his capacities moving forward.”
The interview followed a week of Democratic calls for Biden to reconsider his candidacy, with Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey becoming the highest-profile figure to suggest he evaluate his position. “The best way forward right now is a decision for the President to make,” Healey remarked.
