(NewsNation) — President Joe Biden on Friday reiterated that he is not dropping out of the presidential race at a campaign rally in Wisconsin.
This Wisconsin trip comes after last week’s presidential debate. Although former President and Republican nominee Donald Trump made multiple false statements, Biden’s verbal stumbles and apparent confusion sparked concerns about his mental acuity and age.
“I can’t say it was my best performance,” Biden admitted in front of roughly 300 supporters at Sherman Middle School in Madison on Friday afternoon. He acknowledged that there’s been speculation surrounding whether he would stay the Democratic nominee in the 2024 election.
“Here’s the answer: I am running and going to win again,” Biden said on Friday, to loud cheers and chants of “Let’s Go Joe.”
“I beat Donald Trump. I will beat him again,” Biden also said.
Other speakers at the Wisconsin rally, including Gov. Tony Evers and Democratic Party of Wisconsin chair Ben Wikler, got a similarly positive response.
“Donald Trump is dreaming about unchecked power. Joe Biden is dreaming about a new birth of freedom in this country, about a revitalization of our democracy, about building an economy that works for working people,” Wikler said. “That is what he’s done in his presidency. That is what he will do for the next four years.”
Biden’s speech came before he taped an interview with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos that White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said “millions of Americans” are expected to watch. ABC said it will air the interview Friday night and then provide a transcript of what was said.
Other 2024 campaign stops
This is a crucial campaign weekend for Biden, as there has reportedly been private angst among Democratic lawmakers, donors and strategists over his ability to win the election over Trump. Three lawmakers — Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass.; Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas; and Rep. Raúl Grijalva, D-Ariz — have already urged him to drop out of the race. Others, though, have voiced support for Biden’s 2024 campaign.
Vice President Kamala Harris, first lady Jill Biden and second gentleman Doug Emhoff are scheduled to travel with Biden to every battleground state this month. Campaign organizers, the Associated Press reported, are planning to knock on more than 3 million doors in July and August as part of a new $17 million effort.
On Sunday, Biden is going to be in Pennsylvania. Although he was initially scheduled to speak before the National Education Association in Philadelphia, the group’s strike caused the campaign to cancel the event. The campaign said Biden will not cross a picket line.
After next week’s NATO summit in Washington, Biden is set to visit Southwestern states. A strategy memo released Friday emphasized Biden’s participation in “frequent off-the-cuff moments,” the AP wrote.
