30-6-2024 (WASHINGTON) In the aftermath of a debate performance that sparked concerns among many Democrats, US President Joe Biden embarked on a trio of campaign fundraisers on June 29, seeking to reassure high-dollar donors of his ability to secure re-election in November’s hotly contested race. Accompanied by First Lady Jill Biden, a staunch defender of her 81-year-old husband, the president aimed to quell the mounting doubts and regain momentum.
At gatherings in New York and New Jersey, co-hosted by A-list celebrities Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick, Jill Biden delivered an impassioned defense of her husband’s capabilities. “Joe isn’t just the right person for the job – he’s the only person for the job,” she told one gathering, underscoring her unwavering confidence in the president’s suitability for the nation’s highest office.
The fundraisers followed a wave of criticism and calls for Biden to step aside, sparked by his lackluster performance during the June 27 debate against Republican rival Donald Trump. Frequent stumbles over words and lapses in train of thought exacerbated long-standing concerns about the president’s age and mental acuity, prompting harsh assessments from political commentators and editorial boards alike.
The New York Times editorial board joined the chorus urging Biden to withdraw from the race, while The Washington Post’s editorial implored the president to engage in soul-searching over the weekend, deeming his debate performance “calamitous” and raising “legitimate questions about whether he’s up for another four years in the world’s toughest job.”
However, no high-ranking elected Democrat has echoed these calls, and former presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton have publicly reiterated their backing for Biden’s candidacy.
Undeterred, Biden took to the campaign trail on June 28 in North Carolina, delivering a fiery speech in which he pledged to keep fighting. “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,” he acknowledged to supporters. “But I know how to tell the truth. I know how to do this job,” he declared, vowing to get back up when knocked down.
While acknowledging the debate did not go as hoped, Biden’s campaign insists the neck-and-neck race against Trump has not been significantly altered. Campaign chairwoman Jennifer O’Malley Dillon, in a public memo, stated that internal post-debate polling showed voters’ opinions remained unchanged, citing a surge of $27 million raised by Friday evening as evidence of sustained support.
At one of the fundraisers, Biden acknowledged the concerns but remained defiant: “I didn’t have a great night, but neither did Trump. I promise you, we’re gonna win this election.”
Later, in neighboring New Jersey, Biden reiterated his determination to the crowd gathered with Democratic Governor Phil Murphy. “I understand the concern after the debate,” he said. “I get it. I didn’t have a great night, but I’m going to be fighting harder.”
Murphy affirmed his confidence in the president, telling attendees, “Biden is on fire, and we are all with you 1,000 percent.”
As the president prepared to travel with his family to the Camp David presidential retreat, where he spent the previous week preparing for the debate.
