ATLANTA — In his first news conference since a challenging debate performance in Atlanta, President Joe Biden worked to regain support amid growing calls from within his party for him to step aside from the presidential race.
Several members of the Democratic Party and supporters have expressed the need for Biden to reconsider his candidacy. During the conference, Biden addressed these concerns head-on, emphasizing his qualifications and determination to remain in the race.
Different Perspectives
Allen English, a representative of Atlanta Young Republicans, criticized Biden’s performance.
"I don't think, really, anybody expected a whole lot out of this, and that's exactly what we got," English said.
English also noted that the president struggled with his words during the conference.
"He confused Vice President Harris and President Trump after confusing President Putin and President Zelenskyy," English added, highlighting a pattern of verbal missteps.
In contrast, Bishop Reginald Jackson of the African Methodist Episcopal Church defended Biden.
"The fact of the matter is, Joe Biden has stuttered all of his life. So this issue of stuttering is not anything new. It's been with him all along, but he has really dealt with it and done very well. I thought he did well tonight," Jackson said.
Jackson, who supported Biden during his initial Senate run, continued to stand by him, emphasizing the president's accomplishments over the past three and a half years.
"Joe Biden is an old man. He was old when he was elected in 2020, but look at what this old man has done over these three and a half years," Jackson said.
Ongoing Concerns and Future Prospects
Despite Biden's assertion that he is the most qualified person to run for president, some Democrats have asked him to step down from the ticket.
However, Biden reiterated his commitment to the race, stating, "I'm the most qualified person to run for president. I beat him once, and I will beat him again."
Both English and Jackson acknowledged the importance of undecided voters in the upcoming election.
"There's still plenty of time until November, but I think most Republicans going into the convention in a couple of weeks are feeling pretty good," English said.
Jackson shared his concerns about voter turnout, noting, "I'm concerned about how the turnout would be this election because there is a lot of disenchantment with both candidates and both parties."
With two weeks until the Republican National Convention and more than a month until the Democratic National Convention, both candidates have time to persuade undecided voters.