Biden: ‘No one’s pushing me out’
Defiant on a call with campaign staff and phoning other top Democrats, the president vowed to stay in the race.
By Lauren Egan, Eli Stokols, Elena Schneider and Jonathan Lemire
07/03/2024 02:22 PM EDT
Updated: 07/03/2024 03:15 PM EDT
President Joe Biden unexpectedly joined a Zoom call with campaign and Democratic National Committee staff on Wednesday, mounting a new push to preserve the viability of his embattled candidacy, according to two people on the call.
Amid reports that Biden is privately acknowledging to allies that his candidacy is hanging in the balance, the president stated that he’s in the race for the long haul, though he conceded that the days since last week’s debate with former President Donald Trump have been damaging, according to two people on the call who were granted anonymity to discuss the sensitive matter.
“Let me say this as clearly as I possibly can — as simply and straightforward as I can: I am running … no one’s pushing me out. I’m not leaving. I’m in this race to the end and we’re going to win,” Biden said on the call.
Biden’s forcefulness and resolve, especially compared to how he came across during last week’s debate, was as reassuring to several attendees, who discussed the call afterward via text message, as what he said.
Vice President Kamala Harris, whose profile has risen in recent days as Democrats focus on her with new seriousness as a possible replacement atop the ticket, was seated beside Biden on the video call.
“We will not back down,” Harris said. “We will follow our president’s lead. We will fight, and we will win.”
The president thanked everyone working on his campaign and reminded them of what’s at stake. “There is no one I’d rather be in this battle with than all of you,” Biden said. “So let’s link arms. Let’s get this done. You, me, the vice president. Together.”
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https://www.politico.com/news/2024/07/03/biden-no-ones-pushing-me-out-00166497