Biden’s Detroit rally energizes supporters

I’ll start by making one thing perfectly clear.  Donald Trump has my strong endorsement. 
 
Our country is at a critical moment.  We have a choice to make.  For more than a year, I said a vote for Joe Biden is a vote for President Kamala Harris.  After seeing the debate, everyone…

— Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) July 17, 2024

President Joe Biden delivered a strong speech at a rally in Detroit, facing a friendly audience despite recent scrutiny over a series of high-profile gaffes. The 81-year-old Democrat told supporters he can beat former President Donald Trump in November’s election, with the crowd chanting “don’t you quit” and “four more years.” However, Biden’s poor debate performance has fueled Democrats’ unease about his candidacy. The president faces new questions from top Democrats in Congress while self-isolating after testing positive for COVID-19.

Leaders of the DNC are moving toward confirming President Biden's nomination by the end of July, multiple people tell @llerer @reidepstein me https://t.co/EXLv5iC0i5

— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) July 16, 2024

Joe Biden: “You won’t answer the question, but why doesn’t the press talk about all the lies he’s told?”

Lester Holt: “We have reported many of the issues that came up in the debate.”

Biden: “No, you haven’t.”

Holt: “We’ll provide you with them.”

Biden: “God love you.” pic.twitter.com/B0npEoOHYd

— The Recount (@therecount) July 16, 2024

Biden stated he feels “good” despite the positive test and has departed Las Vegas for his home in Delaware, where he will self-isolate until recovered. Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi recently approached President Biden to express concerns shared by many within the party regarding his continued candidacy. According to sources, Pelosi indicated that pressure for him to step down could intensify. The conversation underscores a significant intra-party debate, as figures like Rep. Adam Schiff publicly suggest Biden should “pass the torch.”

Biden on how he plans to tamper down inflammatory rhetoric and behaviors:

"Continue to talk about the things that matter to the American public. It matters whether or not you accept the outcome of elections. It matters whether or not you talk about … people being 'vermin.'" pic.twitter.com/t7k784n1WA

— The Recount (@therecount) July 16, 2024

Amidst these political tensions, President Biden tested positive for COVID-19 with mild symptoms. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre confirmed that Biden would self-isolate and continue his duties from Delaware. The President has reportedly taken Paxlovid to mitigate symptoms and maintains a mild condition. In an interview with BET, President Biden addressed questions about his ability to serve, stating he would step aside if medically unfit but dismissed this scenario as unlikely. He reaffirmed his ongoing evaluation of his capabilities, emphasizing a year-by-year assessment. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, co-chair of the DNC Rules Committee, urged the Biden campaign to delay the virtual roll call for the official nomination. This delay, advocated by several governors, was agreed upon by the Biden campaign to secure more time and strategic advantage. The Democratic Party is at a crossroads with significant figures weighing in on President Biden’s reelection bid. As health concerns and strategic delays dominate the headlines, Biden remains steadfast in his commitment to another term, setting the stage for a contentious and closely watched election cycle. In a Saturday morning appearance on CNN’s “Smerconish,” sportscaster Bob Costas warned that President Joe Biden’s fiery speech on Friday night in Detroit doesn’t change the “basic calculus” of his chances in November against former President Donald Trump. Costas had previously called for Biden to exit the presidential race in February. The Emmy-award winner criticized the party for running the 81-year-old Biden against Trump, who is 78, in this year’s presidential election. Since the debate between Trump and Biden on June 27, Biden’s neurological health and mental fitness for the presidency have been the focus of intense speculation on Capitol Hill and in the media. At least 20 sitting Democratic lawmakers had called on the president to step down as of Friday, with some announcing their stance hours after he referred to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as “President Putin” and Vice President Kamala Harris as “Vice President Trump” during a press conference. In Detroit, a state crucial to Biden’s chances of defeating Trump for a second time, the president addressed the speculation about his campaign and reaffirmed his pledge to stay in the race.

Biden’s firm stance despite pressures

“You’ve probably noticed there’s been a lot of speculation lately—What’s Joe Biden gonna do? Is he going to stay in the race? Is he going to drop out of the race?” Biden told the crowd. “Here’s my answer: I am running and we’re gonna win! I’m not going to change that.” On Saturday, Michael Smerconish asked Costas about the current state of the race following Biden’s poor debate performance. When asked what he would say to Biden supporters who might think Biden’s speech showed him at the top of his game, Costas responded, “It doesn’t change the basic calculus. Again, it’s a shame. Biden’s a decent man. We don’t want to see it play out this way.” Costas added that he wonders “whether we’ve been gaslit by Democrats” regarding Biden’s physical and mental health. “Biden had a chance to be a statesman and a patriot by leaving the race. Now, we can no longer indulge his delusions. These are desperate times that call for measures to meet the circumstances,” he said. While Biden has slipped in some polling since the debate, recent surveys and election forecasts suggest that the contest is still essentially deadlocked, with Biden remaining well within striking distance of Trump just under four months before Election Day. A national NPR/PBS News/Marist poll released on Friday found that the incumbent president has a small lead over the former president, albeit within the poll’s 3.3 percent margin of error. Biden was favored by 50 percent of registered voters, while 48 percent backed Trump in a head-to-head matchup. In Michigan, an average of recent polls from polling website FiveThirtyEight found that Trump was leading Biden by just 0.2 percent as of Friday. The tight polling in battleground states adds to the high stakes, with both houses of Congress potentially hanging in the balance. Representative Greg Landsman, an Ohio Democrat representing a competitive congressional district, warned on Thursday that it is becoming “more likely” that Republicans will control all three branches of government next January. “The stakes are so high. Trump in a second term would be dangerous to our democracy. He’ll upend our lives. The only thing worse than that is if he was in control of all three branches of government, which is becoming more and more likely to happen. That’s where we’re headed,” Landsman said.