US President Joe Biden, in a letter to congressional Democrats, insisted he is the best person to defeat President Donald Trump, despite growing questions about his mental state.
advertisementIncumbent US President Joe Biden has made it clear to party members that he has no intention of withdrawing early from this year's elections.
In the letter, written on his own letterhead, Biden sought to assure Democrats that he is the party's ideal candidate and “the person best suited to defeat Donald Trump in 2024.”
He acknowledged growing concerns about his eligibility but said he was “not ignoring the concerns” and argued he knew “better than anyone” the responsibilities and burdens that the party's candidate carries.
Biden reminded the party that he is their nominee and said he would not ignore the decision of Democratic voters who previously selected him as the right candidate.
Biden insists he will continue campaigning
Biden and his family have repeatedly insisted he will remain in the re-election race amid growing calls for him to be replaced.
More recently, First Lady Jill Biden told supporters in a speech to military personnel after a barbecue in North Carolina that she would “fully support” her husband to remain the Democratic presidential nominee.
Five Democratic lawmakers have said that President Biden should step down, and the Democratic Party appears to be divided on whether Biden should stay in office or step down.
Several Democratic members of the committee have also suggested Biden should withdraw from the race.
Much of the criticism of Biden came after he repeatedly lost his train of thought and failed to make an impact during his debates with rival Donald Trump, sparking speculation that the 81-year-old president may not be mentally ready to fight for another four years in office.
Several US newspapers, including The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times, have reported evidence of the president's mental deficiencies, but it is difficult to gauge the full extent of how Biden's age will affect his ability to be an effective leader.
The fact that Republican supporters have so far shared tailored videos on social media aimed at President Biden, aimed at making him look particularly old and demented, doesn't help the picture.
Biden himself refused to take a cognitive test during an interview with ABC News Channel, arguing that his ability to carry out the day-to-day duties of the presidency was proof enough of his competency.
Democrats at a crossroads
As Biden is his party's presidential nominee, he is unlikely to be removed from office unless he resigns voluntarily.
Though several Democrats have now said they have lost confidence in the president's pick, they remain in the minority and few are willing to make that claim publicly.
The Democratic National Convention opens in Chicago on August 19th, and the chances (if any) of electing Biden's successor are looking slimmer.
Biden, who is due to host a summit in Washington this week to mark NATO's 75th anniversary, is under intense scrutiny to ensure he doesn't make any mistakes or show any obvious signs of mental weakness.
Biden then has four months until Election Day to avoid any serious missteps that would reaffirm what his debate performance suggested to many: that he may be too old to serve another term as US president.
