After TV interview: Doubts remain about Biden

“You’re really seeing a president who’s closing his eyes to the truth and he’s in a bubble,” Castro, a former housing secretary who ran against Biden for the Democratic nomination in 2020, was quoted as saying by The New York Times.

“The president is rightly proud of his balance sheet,” Axelrod wrote on Twitter. “But he is dangerously averse to people’s concerns about his abilities and where he stands in this race.”

ABC Interview: Biden Thinks He's the Better Candidate

The 20-minute conversation with ABC News was really about damage control. While Biden tried to focus on the successes of his term, reporter George Stephanopoulos didn’t stray far from the topic of his continued relevance. It wasn’t about the political content at all.

At 81, the oldest US president in history reacted in an unconscionable way, saying, among other things, that only God could convince him to withdraw. Biden has cast doubt on polls that have shown him continuing to lose support in recent days.

He also refused to take a medical test to determine his mental fitness when asked several times by Stephanopoulos. He also declined to explain what would happen if those close to him warned him that his behavior would also have a negative impact on the majority in the US Congress. Biden said everyone would ask him to stay in the race.

“The interview was necessary, but not sufficient.”

“This interview was necessary but not sufficient,” Paul Begala, a senior Democratic strategist, said, according to the New York Times. “It will not quell the growing anger and resentment among Democrats. Nothing short of a Simone Biles triple flip with a double twist by President Biden could make Democrats forget about this debate.”

Republican presidential candidate and former US President Donald Trump also responded to the interview, saying: “Corrupt Joe Biden should ignore his many critics and push his strong, far-reaching campaign with passion and vigor.”

Behind the scenes turmoil

In the November elections, in addition to the presidential office, several seats in Congress will also be up for grabs. There are growing concerns among Democrats that Republicans could control both the White House and Congress in the future. A handful of Democratic members of the House of Representatives have publicly called on Biden to drop out of the race, and a few others have made it clear that Biden cannot defeat his Republican rival, Trump.

Democratic Rep. Angie Craig called on Biden to withdraw on Saturday, as The Washington Post reported: “Given what I saw and heard from the president during last week’s debate in Atlanta, coupled with the lack of a strong response from him, Mr. President, even after this debate, I do not believe that the president can effectively campaign and win against Donald Trump.”

High Level Democratic Meeting

However, doubts about the suitability of the Democrats remain behind closed doors, with criticism being directed indirectly through the American media. Corresponding statements from unnamed congressional staffers are piling up. These messages could become louder in the coming days, as there is a week of hearings in Congress. According to reports, more defectors in the party are expected.

For example, Senator Mark Warner is trying to rally a group of Democrats behind him to convince Biden to drop out of the race. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries is also reportedly planning to meet with top House Democrats on Sunday to discuss the situation.

“Biden is our man”

However, Biden also receives popular support, for example from his longtime party colleague, Senator Chris Coons. He praised Biden’s political performance on Channel X, writing, “I can’t wait to help him continue the fight against Trump and win in November.” Senator John Fetterman also wrote, “Joe Biden is our man.”

Democratic Rep. Mike Quigley, who had publicly called on Biden to drop out shortly before the interview aired, contradicted Fetterman on CNN: It takes backbone to “acknowledge that the president of the United States doesn’t have the energy to reduce the deficit here to overcome it. And that’s going to have an impact on all of us.” Biden also received support from California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who some see as a potential successor to Biden.

Disastrous TV Duel

Just over a week ago, Biden made a disastrous first televised appearance with his Republican opponent Trump, making a series of promises and losing the thread. After that, a debate erupted in the United States about whether Biden is still the right Democratic presidential candidate to defeat Trump again.

Since then, Biden has been fighting on all fronts to save his candidacy and is also relying on many campaign appointments. In the ABC News television interview, he had no blunders or serious errors, but he sometimes struggled with words. According to the radio, the interview was broadcast without cuts.

Biden has already clinched his party’s presidential nomination — and will be formally elected at the Democratic convention, which will be held in Chicago from August 19 to 22. The US president has already secured the necessary delegates in the primaries. He has had no significant competition in the primary campaign. If he voluntarily surrenders or is forced to surrender, Democrats will have to quickly agree on a replacement given the proximity of the election.