Joe Biden says he is staying in US presidential race, calls debate performance a ‘bad episode’
- Since June 27 debate, the US president has confronted widespread concerns about his abilities, with some Democrats reportedly suggesting in private that he drop out
US President Joe Biden appeared determined to stay in the 2024 presidential election on Friday despite calls from some Democrats for him to drop out following a debate performance last week that left people questioning his ability to govern.
“I’m staying in this race,” Biden told a campaign audience in the swing state of Wisconsin. “I’m not letting one 90-minute debate wipe out three-and-a-half years of work.”
And when pursued by reporters asking whether he was going to drop out of the race, Biden said “completely ruling that out”, adding that he had spoken to at least 20 members of Congress, whom he said “were telling me to stay in the race”.
“No indication of any serious condition. I was exhausted. I did not listen to my instincts in terms of preparing and - and a bad night,” Biden said.