If President Joe Biden is going to survive pressure to abandon his re-election campaign after a poor showing in his debate with Donald Trump, he needs to ace a gauntlet of events in the coming days. As calls grow from some of his own Democrats to step aside, and support coalesces around the idea of Vice President Kamala Harris taking his place in the November election, Biden needs to demonstrate stamina and mental acuity to voters and donors.
Biden will host families at the annual July 4 Independence Day festivities at the White House on Thursday, be interviewed on ABC News on Friday, and travel to Wisconsin the same day for a campaign rally with hundreds of supporters. On Sunday, Biden and his wife Jill will speak to thousands at the National Education Association in Pennsylvania. Next week, he will host dozens of world leaders at the NATO summit in Washington and hold a rare solo news conference. He has also conducted several radio interviews to bolster his presence and reconnect with his base.
Dozens of House Democrats are watching closely, ready to ask Biden to step aside if he falters in the ABC interview, a source told Reuters. Biden’s already soft polls against Trump took a slight hit after the debate a week ago in Atlanta, but a new Reuters/Ipsos poll showed Biden pulling even with Trump this week, a sign the contest remains close. Trump and Biden each had 40% support among registered voters in the two-day poll that concluded on Tuesday, an indication that despite the setback, Biden remains competitive. A prior Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted June 11-12 showed Trump with a marginal 2 percentage point lead, gathering 41% to Biden’s 39%.
Despite the pressure, Biden has remained resolute. He has emphasized his administration’s achievements in various public and private forums, including an interview with Earl Ingram of “The Earl Ingram Show” radio program on Wednesday. “I screwed up, I made a mistake. That’s 90 minutes on stage. Look what I’ve done for the last three and a half years,” Biden said, speaking candidly about his debate performance while also highlighting his legislative and policy accomplishments.
Biden met with a group of Democratic governors on Wednesday at the White House to make his case for continuing his campaign. Some of these governors expressed their continued support for Biden after the meeting. “President Joe Biden is in it to win it,” New York Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul told reporters. Maryland Democratic Governor Wes Moore articulated the collective effort needed, stating, “We know that we have work to do.
. It’s going to take all of us to make it happen.” Additionally, California Governor Gavin Newsom, who has sometimes been mentioned as a potential alternative to Biden, declared on X, formerly known as Twitter, that he was “all in” for Biden.
However, not all Democrats are convinced. Arizona’s Raul Grijalva has called for Biden to drop out of the race. Similarly, Representative Seth Moulton from Massachusetts pointed to Biden’s age as a significant concern. “The unfortunate reality is that the status quo will likely deliver us President Trump,” Moulton said in a statement. “President Biden is not going to get younger.”
Biden’s performance in various upcoming events is seen as crucial in altering the narrative and easing concerns about his age and vitality. His first major test comes with the ABC News interview on Friday. An impressive showing could quiet some of the growing doubts and bolster his base of support. Conversely, any slip-ups might embolden those calling for his withdrawal from the race.
The July 4 festivities at the White House not only serve as a celebration of national pride but also provide a platform for Biden to connect with the American public on an emotional level. His planned campaign rally in Wisconsin is another opportunity to energize his supporters and reassert his re-election bid. On Sunday, his address at the National Education Association in Pennsylvania is expected to emphasize his administration’s commitment to education reform and investment in school systems.
Next week, the NATO summit in Washington will undoubtedly be a significant event on the world stage, showcasing Biden’s leadership and foreign policy credentials. Hosting dozens of world leaders and holding a solo news conference will test his ability to manage delicate international relations while under domestic political pressure.
With the election race neck-and-neck, President Biden’s ability to demonstrate vigor, mental sharpness, and resilience in the forthcoming days will be crucial. Whether he can secure his standing within his party and among voters remains to be seen. The upcoming week promises to be a definitive period in Biden’s re-election campaign, one that may well determine the future trajectory of his political career.
