Joe Biden quashed rumors that he would leave the race after his lackluster performance at the first presidential debate left many Democrats dazed.
In a much more galvanizing speech than the previous night, the president affirmed to voters that his raspy speech and, at times, confused answers weren’t an indication of his performance as president.
“I know I’m not a young man,” Biden told supporters at a stump in Raleigh, North Carolina on Friday. “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. But I know what I do know: I know how to tell the truth.”
Rumors and calls for Biden’s exit from the ticket swirled amongst Democrats on Thursday night as the president bungled questions on inflation and the economy at large early in the contest, critics noting his soft-spokenness and frail demeanor.
Biden’s performance was contrasted by the relative vigor of his opponent, who bucked questions and pivoted attention to immigration and other core attack avenues, spewing unchallenged lies along the way.
“When you get knocked down, you get back up,” the 81-year-old said. “Folks, I give you my word as a Biden: I would not be running again if I didn't believe, with all my heart and soul, I could do this job — because, quite frankly, the stakes are too high."
Biden’s running mate, Vice President Kamala Harris, stayed on message when asked about his performance.
“I’m not going to spend all night with you talking about the last 90 minutes when I’ve been watching the last three and half years of performance,” the Vice President told CNN’s Anderson Cooper.
The campaign, committed to the message that Biden’s disappointing debate performance shouldn’t distract, confirmed to The Hill last night that the president had no intention to exit the race.
Despite Biden’s late-night debate on Thursday (and an even later-night stop at an Atlanta Waffle House,) his jam-packed Friday includes visits to New York City and the North Carolina campaign event.
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