US President Joe Biden remained defiant about staying in the White House race, asserting that only "Lord Almighty" could convince him to withdraw, despite growing concerns among some Democrats over his faltering performance in the June 27 presidential debate. Biden emphasized his determination to defeat his Republican rival, former President Donald Trump, and dismissed the idea of stepping aside due to his age and mental health concerns, as reported by The Guardian.
During an interview with George Stephanopoulos of ABC News on Friday, Biden addressed the concerns directly. He acknowledged his poor performance in the debate, attributing it to a "bad episode" and taking full responsibility for the mishap. "I just had a bad night. I don't know why," Biden admitted while maintaining that it was an isolated incident.
The President, who is 81 years old, has faced scrutiny over his fitness to serve another term. He dismissed calls for a detailed cognitive test to be made public, asserting that he undergoes cognitive assessments daily through his work. "I have a cognitive test every single day. Every day I have that test - everything I do (is a test)," Biden said.
Biden attributed his subpar debate performance to fatigue, denying any serious health issues. "I was exhausted. I didn't listen to my instincts in terms of preparing," he explained. He revealed that he had been feeling unwell before the debate, undergoing multiple health checks, including a Covid-19 test, all of which came back negative. "I just had a really bad cold," Biden noted.
The President emphasized that his personal doctors monitor his health closely and would inform him if there were any serious concerns. He confidently stated, "Can I run the 100 in 10 flat? No. But I’m still in good shape."
Despite the debate setback, Biden expressed confidence in his ability to beat Trump, dismissing concerns and polls showing him trailing the Republican. "I don't think anyone is more qualified," he asserted.
Biden also reflected on the debate dynamics, acknowledging that Trump’s disruptions had been distracting. "I realized that, even when I was answering a question and they turned his mic off, he was still shouting and I let it distract me. I’m not blaming it on that. But I realized that I just wasn’t in control," he admitted.
As part of his effort to regain voter confidence, Biden made campaign stops in battleground states Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. At a rally in Wisconsin, he reinforced his commitment to the race, declaring, "I’m running and going to win."
