President Joe Biden has a message for other Democrats who might be mulling a bid for the party’s presidential nomination: He’s sitting on a massive campaign war chest.
But amid some Democratic lawmakers’ calls for him to drop out of the race over worries about his cognitive health and stamina, the embattled president also acknowledged publicly Thursday that others in his party could defeat Donald Trump.
Notably, however, Biden was careful to avoid naming names during a high-profile prime-time press conference.
“So a lot can happen, but … I believe I’m the best qualified to govern and I think I’m the best qualified to win,” Biden told reporters. “But there are other people who could beat Trump, too.”
That’s when he pivoted to a warning for those critics who seem to believe if he dropped out, the party would neatly pick another nominee who would automatically beat the former president and expected GOP nominee.
“But it’s awful to start … from scratch,” Biden said. “And, you know, we talk about, you know, money raised. We’re not doing bad. We got about $220 million in the bank. And we’re doing well.”
During the question-and-answer session, which lasted nearly an hour, Biden opted against saying whether he believes his hand-picked vice president, Kamala Harris, could take down Trump.
Biden began his answer to that very question with his second major gaffe of the day, referring to her as “Vice President Trump,” before telling reporters he would not have picked her in 2020 if he had concluded “she was not qualified to be president.” But he then pivoted to touting his own perceived ability to beat Trump.
“The fact is that, the consideration is that I think I’m the most qualified person to run for president,” Biden said. “I beat him once, and I will beat him again.”
Still, the admission that another Democrat would have a shot to defeat Trump stood in contrast to Biden’s more combative tone when asked about other Democrats potentially running against Trump during an interview with ABC News that aired July 5.
Anchor George Stephanopoulos, a former Bill Clinton aide, asked him: “I understand that’s why you want to stay in the race, but have you convinced yourself that only you can defeat him?”
Biden replied: “I convinced myself of two things. I’m the most qualified person to beat him, and I know how to get things done,” he said. About dropping out, he added, “It depends on … if the Lord Almighty comes down and tells me that, I might do that.”
The president did not disclose Thursday if he has had any divine intervention since his sit-down with Stephanopoulos. But the list of Democratic lawmakers urging him to bow out grew Friday when Colorado Rep. Brittany Pettersen wrote on social media platform X: “With deep appreciation and love, @joebiden please pass the torch.”
Still, only about 7 percent of all House and Senate Democrats or independents who caucus with them have urged Biden to get out of the race. And Biden has allies among the rest.
Rep. John Garamendi, D-Calif., on Friday called Biden the party’s “experienced quarterback” who is best-positioned to win what he described as the “Super Bowl of elections.” But like other Democratic lawmakers, he was quick to hedge during a CNN appearance, calling Harris “our experienced backup quarterback.”
Just in case. After all, as Biden said Thursday: “The campaign really hasn’t even started. … Most of the time, it doesn’t start until after September, after Labor Day. So, a lot can happen.”
The post Biden admits other Democrats could beat Trump, but sends potential rivals a message appeared first on Roll Call.
