Biden shows no signs of giving up despite pressure

Biden, 81, is facing opposition from Democrats in Congress and some influential donors, who are increasingly concerned that he may not be able to defeat Republican Donald Trump, 78, in the November 5 election.

However, in a highly anticipated interview that President Biden gave to ABC News and aired Friday night, he showed that he has no intention of dropping out of the race for the White House.

US President Joe Biden is under a lot of pressure to drop out of the White House race this year. Photo: Reuters

Campaign calls on Biden to drop out

In that interview, Mr. Biden said that only “God Almighty” could convince him to abandon his campaign, dismissing the possibility that Democratic leaders might be banding together to try to persuade him to resign. He held regular discussions with key members of his campaign on Saturday, according to the White House.

But pressure from Congress will only increase in the coming days as lawmakers return to Washington after the holidays, leaving Mr Biden facing perhaps one of the most important weeks of his presidency.

During this time, as his future is debated on Capitol Hill, President Biden will host dozens of world leaders at the crucial NATO Summit in Washington.

On Saturday, Minnesota Rep. Angie Craig became the first Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from a battleground district to call on President Biden to withdraw.

“Given what I saw and heard from the President at last week’s debate in Atlanta, and the lack of a strong response from the President following the debate, I do not believe the President can effectively campaign and win against Donald Trump,” Craig wrote on social media X.

Several Democratic lawmakers in the US House of Representatives are circulating two separate letters urging Biden to drop out, according to House Democratic sources. Many of those lawmakers waited to see the ABC News interview before moving forward.

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries has scheduled a conference call for Sunday with senior House Democrats to discuss Biden's candidacy and the path forward.

President Joe Biden speaks during an interview with ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos in Madison, Wisconsin on July 5. Photo: ABC News

"Every day (Biden) delays makes it harder for a new guy to beat Donald Trump," Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas, who has previously called for Biden to resign, told CNN after the ABC interview.

Meanwhile, on the US Senate side, Senator Mark Warner has contacted a number of Democratic senators to invite them to a meeting that could take place on Monday to discuss Mr. Biden's campaign.

Biden's rescue efforts

Mr Biden spent Saturday at his home in Delaware, with no public events on his schedule. However, Sunday will be a busy day for him, with two campaign events in Pennsylvania – in Philadelphia and Harrisburg.

At a campaign rally in Madison, Wisconsin, on Friday, President Biden vowed to stay in the race. “I’m going to run and I’m going to win again,” he told supporters.

Vice President Kamala Harris, the top pick to replace Mr Biden if he drops out, spoke in New Orleans at the Essence Cultural Festival in a campaign rally aimed at black women.

Harris attacked former President Donald Trump and the US Supreme Court for taking away abortion rights, an appearance that was part of the Biden campaign's effort to shore up support among black voters.

Ms Harris posted a note of support on X on Friday after Mr Biden’s rally in Madison, saying the president has spent his life fighting for Americans. “At this point, I know we’re all ready to fight for him,” she said.

"It's time to transfer power"

However, some polls show Mr Trump's lead over Mr Biden widening, and Democrats worry that concerns about the election could spill over into lower-level races.

According to a Bloomberg News/Morning Consult poll, Mr. Trump is leading Mr. Biden, 47% to 45%, in the battleground states that will determine the outcome of the November election.

Margaret Washa, 75, a retired physical therapist in Middleton, Wisconsin, saw Mr. Biden at the Madison rally and thought he looked healthier, but she was disappointed after watching the interview.

“It’s become about him and whether he can do it, rather than what’s best for our country,” she said. “It’s time to transfer power. There are many better, stronger, younger, smarter, more charismatic Democrats out there.”

Huy Hoang (according to Reuters, CNN)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/bau-cu-my-2024-ong-joe-biden-khong-co-dieu-hieu-bo-cuoc-du-suc-ep-ngay-cang-lon-post302509.html