The Latest Updates on President Biden’s Re-election Campaign
President Biden faced a critical week in his candidacy as he addressed concerns from various Democrats about his campaign’s performance on Monday.
Throughout the day, he took bold actions by calling into MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” sending a defiant letter to Democratic members of Congress, and discussing his strategy to confront former President Donald J. Trump with his top fundraisers.
“If anyone doubts my ability to run, they are welcome to challenge me,” Mr. Biden stated on “Morning Joe,” challenging his critics to run against him and announce their presidential candidacy.
This offensive approach comes as Mr. Biden deals with diminishing support from Democratic lawmakers and growing apprehensions about potential losses to Mr. Trump and his supporters in the upcoming elections.
During his conversation with donors, President Biden emphasized the need for Democrats to refocus their attention on countering Mr. Trump’s influence. He also outlined a shift in his campaign strategy leading up to the Republican National Convention, indicating a proactive approach of “attack, attack, attack, attack.”
Here are some key updates:
- Visits from a Parkinson’s expert. Dr. Kevin Cannard made multiple visits to the White House, including meetings with Mr. Biden’s physician, raising questions about the purpose of these visits. The White House has denied any indication of Parkinson’s disease in the President.
- The NATO Summit. Amid calls for a more vigorous campaign from Democrats, President Biden is set to host the 75th NATO summit this week, coinciding with an important phase in his re-election campaign. Aides have committed to an intense campaign schedule starting the week of July 15.
- A‍ press conference. President Biden plans to hold a solo news conference with White House reporters following the NATO summit, a departure from his predecessors who routinely held such conferences. His performance will be closely watched by Democrats assessing his ability to handle spontaneous questioning.
- Whitmer dismisses running rumors. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan clarified that she would not run for the Democratic nomination even if President Biden were to drop out, quashing speculations about her potential candidacy.
- Increasing dissent. Representative Adam Smith joined other high-ranking House Democrats in publicly calling for Mr. Biden to step aside, adding to a growing list of Democratic defections. This trend highlights the ongoing concerns within the party about Mr. Biden’s candidacy.
- The vice-presidential selection. Senator J.D. Vance and Senator Marco Rubio, potential running mates for Mr. Trump, expressed contrasting views on the special prosecutor investigation against Mr. Biden. Their statements add depth to the ongoing discussions surrounding the vice-presidential selection process.
