Biden vows to stay in race, attacking Trump as election threat
4:33 PM EDT, July 13, 2024
-You made me the nominee. You the voters. You decided. No one else. And I’m not going anywhere. (...) I am running and we're going to win. I'm not going to change that - said Joe Biden, thus cutting off speculation about withdrawing from the election campaign.
Joe Biden met with voters in Detroit. Reuters summarized the rally, stating that the president "aimed to revitalize his faltering re-election campaign" with this event. Biden affirmed that he had no intention of withdrawing from the race and warned that Republican Donald Trump posed a serious threat.
The White House leader tried to shift the narrative around his campaign, which has focused on the president's health. Biden also presented his plans for the first 100 days of his second term, including regulating abortion rights, signing a voting rights bill, ending healthcare sector debt, raising the minimum wage, and banning assault weapons.
Biden fights for re-election
According to NBC News, during the rally, some Biden supporters expressed frustration with efforts by certain Democrats to remove the incumbent president from the election race. They believe this weakens the party and benefits his political opponent, Donald Trump.
Michigan Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist was one of those criticizing the calls for Biden to step down. He noted that some people are having too much fun appearing on television and talking nonsense about our president. On Friday, two prominent Democrats - Congressman James Clyburn and California Governor Gavin Newsom - stated that Biden should stay in the race for the White House.
Biden campaign spokesperson Michael Tyler estimated that during Biden's Thursday evening press conference, donations to the incumbent president's election fund "exploded," reaching seven times the usual level.
A poll by NPR/PBS published on Friday shows Biden leading Trump 50 percent to 48 percent, a slight increase compared to a survey conducted before the presidential candidates' debate on June 27. Reuters notes, however, that since then, at least 19 Democratic lawmakers have called for Biden to step down. Democrats could then choose another candidate.
Some analysts point out that Biden is losing ground in several "swing states" that will decide the outcome of the November elections. "If current trends continue, Mr Trump could rack up one of the most decisive presidential victories since 2008," predicted Democratic strategist Doug Sosnik in the "New York Times."
