Biden defiant as calls grow to exit race: 'I’m not leaving'

After President Joe Biden's widely criticized performance in his first 2024 debate with presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump, there have been plenty of heated debates among Trump opponents over whether he should stay in the race or drop out.

Some Democrats are calling for Biden to suspend his campaign, arguing that he should throw his support behind another candidate who would have a better chance of defeating Trump in November — perhaps Vice President Kamala Harris. But others are urging him to stay in the race and saying that finding another nominee would be riskier than sticking with the president.

So far, Biden appears to be determined not to drop out.

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According to the Associated Press (AP), Biden assured Democratic National Committee (DNC) members that he's staying during a Wednesday, July 3 phone conservation.

AP's Seung Min Kim reports that an aide told DNC members that Biden said. "I am running. I am the leader of the Democratic Party. No one is pushing me out."

Politico's Elena Schneider tweeted that Biden also said, "I'm not leaving. I'm in this race to the end, and we're going to win."

Kim reports, "Staff-wide White House calls aren't unusual, but Wednesday's 15-minute check-in came as Biden and senior White House officials were working to assuage rattled lawmakers, donors and other allies within the party amid sharpening questions about whether the 81-year-old president had the competency to run for a second term in office. A memo sent Wednesday by campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon and campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez insists the election between Biden and Trump will still be close, seeking to downplay the lasting effects of the debate."

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The Associated Press' full report is available at this link.