Biden won’t give up on Trump unless polls show there’s no chance

Biden’s statement was in response to a reporter who asked whether he would reconsider his promise to stay in the race if his campaign “came back and showed you data that” Vice President Kamala Harris “would do better against former President Donald Trump.”

Biden began his news conference after seeing more Democrats in Congress call on him to drop out of the race.

The calls were prompted by his poor performance in a debate against Republican Trump in late June, in which Biden at times slurred his words and lost his train of thought, sparking concerns that his mental faculties were declining.

U.S. President Joe Biden attends a news conference during the NATO 75th anniversary summit, in Washington, U.S., July 11, 2024.

Leah Millis | Reuters

At the conference, Biden was asked whether he would let his delegates at the Democratic National Convention “vote their conscience,” opening the possibility of the first serious presidential nomination fight at the Democratic convention in more than five decades.

“Obviously, they are free to do whatever they want,” Biden responded.

“But I get overwhelming support. Overwhelming support. I won… I forget how many votes I won in the primaries, overwhelming.”

“What if tomorrow, all of a sudden, I come to the convention and everybody says we want somebody else?” Biden said. “That’s the democratic process.”

The president then added in a low voice: “That will not happen.”

In the same session, Biden referred to Harris as “Vice President Trump.” Earlier Thursday, he bungled a NATO summit introduction by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy by calling him “President Putin” — the name of the Russian president who launched the ongoing war against Ukraine with a 2022 invasion.

Moments after the press conference, Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut, who is the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said Biden should drop out of the race. During the conference, Biden spent about seven minutes giving a rambling and confusing answer about China.

“President Joe Biden is a remarkable leader with an unparalleled record of public service, undeniable achievement, and unwavering patriotism,” Himes said in a statement. “It is because of these qualities, and in recognition of this legacy, that I hope President Biden will step down from the presidential campaign.”

“The 2024 election will define the future of American democracy, and we must run the strongest candidate possible to confront the threat posed by the MAGA authoritarianism Trump has promised,” Himes said.

“I don’t think it’s Joe Biden anymore.”

Rep. Scott Peters, a California Democrat, joined that call later Thursday night, saying, “The stakes are high and we are on a losing path.”