Biden expressed his intention to keep running in a campaign speech from North Carolina Friday, despite calls from some prominent Biden-friendly pundits for him to step aside.
Topline
President Joe Biden acknowledged age has affected his political performance, but said he would continue his campaign in a speech Friday, appearing far more energetic than he did during his shaky debate Thursday with former President Donald Trump.Key Facts
Biden gave no indication he would heed calls from left-wing pundits for him to drop out of the race and allow another Democrat to run in his place, telling supporters in Raleigh, North Carolina, “I intend to win this state in November . . . we win here, we win the election.”
Biden spoke in the crucial swing state after stammering through Thursday’s debate, including several instances when he lost his train of thought and had to correct himself, prompting abysmal reviews even from some of Trump’s staunchest critics, and reports that Democrats were privately discussing replacing him on the ticket.
Acknowledging concerns about his age and mental acuity, Biden, 81, told the crowd: “I know I’m not a young man, to state the obvious,” adding “I don’t walk as easy as I used to, I don’t speak as smoothly as I used to, I don’t debate as well as I used to.
