CCTO/Inquirer.Net
New York and New Jersey – US President Joe Biden attended a series of campaign fundraisers on Saturday, aiming to reassure high-dollar donors of his ability to win reelection in November despite a debate performance that left many Democrats uneasy.
Joined by First Lady Jill Biden, who has staunchly defended her 81-year-old husband amid calls for him to step aside, the president attended fundraisers in New York and New Jersey. “Joe isn’t just the right person for the job — he’s the only person for the job,” Jill Biden told one gathering, which included A-list actors Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick among the co-hosts.
The president’s campaign faced a wave of doubts following Thursday night’s debate against Republican rival Donald Trump. Biden’s frequent stumbles and moments of lost train of thought during the debate heightened concerns about his age and mental sharpness. Some political commentators, including The New York Times editorial board, suggested Biden should consider stepping down, while The Washington Post’s editorial board urged him to reflect on whether he is fit for another term in office.
Despite the criticism, no high-ranking elected Democrat has echoed these calls, and former presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton publicly reaffirmed their support for Biden on Friday.
In an effort to quell the growing doubts, Biden delivered a passionate campaign speech in North Carolina on Friday, pledging to continue 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,” Biden admitted to supporters. “But I know how to tell the truth. I know how to do this job,” he said to huge cheers, vowing, “when you get knocked down, you get back up.”
Biden’s campaign has acknowledged that the debate did not go as planned but insists that the tight race against Trump remains unchanged. Jennifer O’Malley Dillon, chairwoman of Biden’s campaign, stated in a public memo on Saturday that internal post-debate polling indicated “voters’ opinions were not changed.” She also noted a surge of support, with $27 million raised by Friday evening.
“I didn’t have a great night but neither did Trump,” Biden told one of the gatherings on Saturday. “I promise you we’re gonna win this election,” he added.
Later, the president and the first lady flew to New Jersey for a fundraiser with the state’s Democratic governor, Phil Murphy. “I understand the concern after the debate,” Biden told the crowd. “I get it. I didn’t have a great night, but I’m going to be fighting harder,” he pledged.
Governor Murphy reassured the attendees, saying Biden is “on fire and we are all with you 1,000 percent.”