US President and Democratic re-election candidate Joe Biden was conspicuous by his clumsiness during his debate against Donald Trump. As calls for him to step down multiply, the 81-year-old politician is seeking to reassure the precious donors financing his campaign.
US President Joe Biden attended three fundraisers for his campaign on Saturday, June 29, and tried to reassure the most generous donors, claiming that he was able to win the presidential election despite his chaotic performance during the debate against his predecessor Donald Trump.
“I didn’t have a good night, but neither did Trump,” the Democratic candidate said during one of the fundraisers held in the states of New York and New Jersey, in the northeastern United States.
“I promise you that we will win this election,” he added.
Jill Biden forcefully defended her 81-year-old husband in the face of calls to withdraw his candidacy, saying “Joe is not only the right person for the job, he is the only person for the job.”
“I understand your concern”
Both traveled to New Jersey on Saturday for a fundraiser that the state’s Democratic governor, Phil Murphy, also attended. “I understand your concern after the debate,” the American president said, launching: “I’m going to fight more.”
Joe Biden’s candidacy has been in doubt since his disastrous performance in the debate against former President Donald Trump on Thursday night, with his words swallowed, sentences slurred and his expression haggard, a poor performance that shook his supporters and caused the media to react.
Call to throw in the towel
In an editorial, the prestigious American daily New York Times portrayed Joe Biden as “the shadow of a leader”, after having “failed his own test” during the televised duel.
“The greatest public service Joe Biden could perform today would be to announce that he will not seek reelection,” the editorial board wrote, adding that he has been “an admirable president.”
No figure in the Democratic Party has yet rallied the voices calling for him to step down. Former presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton reiterated their support for Joe Biden on Friday.
According to a public memo from Jennifer O’Malley Dillon, head of the Democratic candidate’s campaign team, an internal poll after the debate concluded that “voters’ opinions (had) not changed.”
Jennifer O’Malley Dillon also says support grew during the debate and after it, with $27 million raised by Friday night, she said.
