Joe Biden urges his party to ‘rally’ around him

(Washington) Joe Biden, very wound up at the start of a crucial week for his political survival, urged his party’s elected officials on Monday to “rally” around him, assuring that he had the support of “the average voter” and brushing aside calls to abandon his candidacy for a second term.

“I am firmly committed to staying in the race,” the American president wrote in a letter to Democratic congressmen, back in session in Washington after the July 4 break.

“Any lack of discernment about the task ahead of us would only help (former President and Republican candidate Donald) Trump and hurt us. It’s time to come together,” said the 81-year-old Democrat.

Joe Biden says he is “not blind” to the “concerns” expressed since this televised duel against his 78-year-old opponent, during which he appeared very tired and confused.

But he recalls having won his party’s primary by a landslide and asserts that “it is not up to the press, the commentators, the major donors” to decide on his candidacy for the presidency.

“Challenge me”

In a call broadcast on MSNBC’s morning show, he vehemently attacked the rebels in his own party.

“Those guys who think I shouldn’t run, let them run against me. […] “Challenge me at the Democratic convention in August,” Joe Biden said furiously.

“I don’t care what millionaires think,” he said, adding that he was “confident” that he had the support of “the average voter” and saw a favorable omen in the result of the French legislative elections.

He will have to demonstrate repartee, vivacity, consistency of ideas… In short, everything that he sorely lacked during the debate with his 78-year-old Republican predecessor.

“France has rejected extremism, (American) Democrats will reject it too,” he said.

Joe Biden stressed that he had campaigned vigorously since his failed debate, while Donald Trump had “done nothing” except “ride around in his golf cart” at his luxury Florida home.

The American president also stressed that he would host a NATO summit in Washington from Tuesday to Thursday, on the occasion of the 75th^e anniversary of the defense organization.

NATO

This will be an opportunity for leaders of allied countries to also gauge the fitness of Joe Biden, who has been the subject of lively speculation for ten days.

The Democrat will be able to remind him that it was under his leadership that NATO mobilized to support Ukraine against Russia, strengthening itself in the process with two new members, Sweden and Finland.

The American president also plans to give a solo press conference on Thursday, something he has avoided since arriving at the White House.

He will have to demonstrate repartee, vivacity, consistency of ideas… In short, everything that he sorely lacked during the debate.

The octogenarian is now making every effort to appear dynamic and full of enthusiasm.

For example, on Sunday he gave a series of impromptu speeches and crowd baths in Pennsylvania, one of the crucial states for the November election.

Sling

And Joe Biden announced new trips: to Michigan on Friday, a state which, like Pennsylvania, will be decisive in November, then to Texas and Nevada later.

However, several elected officials believe that it is time for him to throw in the towel.

It remains to be seen whether the protest will crystallize and lead to a coordinated offensive, publicly supported by very big names in the party, to encourage Joe Biden to give up his seat.

It would be a very difficult decision in an extremely tight schedule.

First, there is no indication that the American president would agree to give up his position.

Then, even if it did, the Democratic Party would have only a few weeks to settle its succession, risking internal divisions and a chaotic nomination convention in August in Chicago.

In this scenario, which is for the moment completely hypothetical, the new candidate would then have only a little over two months to campaign before the election on November 5.