Joey Garrison,Rebecca MorinUSA TODAY
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WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden reaffirmed during a high-stakes press conference Thursday that he won't drop out of the 2024 election, remaining resolute in the face of a growing faction of his own party that doesn't want him to be their presidential nominee.
"I'm not in this for my legacy. I'm in this to complete the job that I started," Biden said at a rare solo press conference with his nomination and five decades in politics on the line.
A defiant Biden, 81, faced a barrage of questions about his fitness and gave occasional unclear answers, rejecting claims that his mental acuity is slipping amid the mounting pressure from Democrats to end his campaign.
"If I slow down and can't get the job done, that's a sign I shouldn't be doing it, but there's no indication of that yet, none," said Biden, whose voice was faint and raspy during stretches of the nearly one-hour appearance and loud and clear at other moments.
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The press conference, which took place at the end of a NATO summit marking the alliance's 75th anniversary, came as a growing number of Democrats, heavyweight donors and party activists are calling for Biden to withdraw.
Biden seemed unmoved by the chorus of Democratic critics who fear he has no shot to beat former President Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, arguing it isn't "unusual" for an incumbent president to have his poll numbers.
"I think I'm the most qualified person to run for president. I beat him once and I will beat him again," Biden said. "I've gotta finish this job. I've gotta finish this job because there's so much at stake."
Biden calls VP Harris 'Vice President Trump' in noticeable gaffe
Many Democrats looking for reassurance from Biden after his disastrous debate against Trump two weeks ago circled the press conference as a defining moment before they make a judgment on Biden's candidacy.
Biden, who spoke much more cogently than he did during the debate, also took questions on foreign policy, pledging support for Ukraine and discussing the rising threat of China.
The evening got off to a rocky start. Biden mistakenly introduced Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as "President Putin," the leader of Russia, during a NATO event ahead of the press conference in which the U.S. and allies pledged long-term support for Ukraine against Russia. Biden quickly corrected himself.
During the press conference, Biden made another glaring flub, accidentally referring to his vice president, Kamala Harris, as "Vice President Trump." He didn't correct himself this time. But later in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Biden wrote: "By the way: Yes, I know the difference. One’s a prosecutor, and the other’s a felon."
More: Biden campaign says ‘no indication’ any other Democrat could do better against Trump
Ahead of the press conference, four additional Democratic members of Congress − Reps. Hillary Scholten of Michigan, Brad Schneider of Illinois, Ed Case of Hawaii and Greg Stanton of Arizona − announced they want Biden to drop out of the 2024 election.
Shortly after the press conference ended, Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, released a statement calling on Biden to withdraw immediately, as did Rep. Scott Peters, D-Calif.
“President Joe Biden is a remarkable leader of unparalleled public service, undeniable achievement and unconditional patriotism,” Himes said. “It is because of those traits, and in consideration of that legacy, that I hope President Biden will step away from the presidential campaign.”
At least 17 Democrats in the House of Representatives have said publicly they want Biden to step aside, while one U.S. senator, Peter Welch of Vermont, has called for the same. Many other members of Congress have expressed grave concerns about Biden's ability to beat Trump.
When asked whether he would reconsider his decision to stay in the race, Biden said: “No, unless they came back and said there's no way you could win.”
He added in a whisper: “No one is saying that. No poll says that.”
The vast majority of national and battleground polls show Biden trailing Trump.
Biden conceded that other Democratic candidates could beat Trump, but said he is the best qualified.
“I believe I'm the best qualified to govern and I think I'm the best qualified to win,” Biden said. “There are other people who can beat Trump, too, but it’s hard to start from scratch.”
Panic erupted among Democrats after Biden struggled to complete thoughts, finish sentences and effectively rebut Trump's claims during a June 27 debate, now two weeks ago.
Biden hasn't recovered politically. After coalescing many Democrats in Congress around his reelection bid earlier in the week, Biden has been under heavy fire since Tuesday night.
Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., said in an interview on CNN that he fears Trump will defeat Biden in a "landslide," and Democrats will lose the Senate and House. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., was noncommittal Wednesday whether Biden should be the party's nominee.
Biden's detractors go beyond the Capitol. Hollywood actor and Democratic donor George Clooney, who hosted a Biden fundraiser just last month, called for Democrats to choose a different nominee. As did actor and director Rob Reiner, another major Democratic donor.
Biden rejects having limitations, but says he has to 'pace myself'
But Biden took strong exception with any suggestion that he's lost a step and can't handle the vigor of the job.
"The limitations that I've acknowledged that I have?" Biden said, disputing the premise of one reporter's question that referenced reports that Biden will stop holding campaign events past 8 p.m. because of concerns with his stamina.
"My schedule has been full," Biden said. "Where's Trump been, riding around on his golf cart, filling out his scorecard before he hits the ball? I mean, look, he's done virtually nothing."
Biden said he's capable of keeping a full schedule, but added it would “be smarter for me to pace myself a little more."
"I love my staff, but they add things. They add things all the time at the very end," he said. "I'm catching hell from my wife."
Top Biden campaign officials, Jen O'Malley Dillon and Julie Rodriguez Chavez, in a memo Thursday, said Biden has multiple paths to secure the 270 electoral votes needed to win the election, pointing to a sweep of the so-called "Blue Wall" states of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin as "the clearest pathway."
Biden is taking his embattled campaign to Michigan on Friday. Next week, Biden will take part in an NBC News interview that will be televised Monday night, his second television interview since his disastrous debate performance.
"I'm determined on running, but I think it's important that I allay fears by letting them see me out there," Biden said.
Reach Joey Garrison on X, formerly Twitter, @joeygarrison.
