‘I don’t think anybody’s more qualified to be president or win this race than me,’ the president said.
President Joe Biden said on Friday that he is in good shape to run for reelection and believes he is the most qualified Democrat candidate to defeat his rival, former President Donald Trump. The president made these remarks in his first television interview following last week’s presidential debate.
“Can I run the 100 in 10 flat? No. But I’m still in good shape,” President Biden said during an interview with ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos in Wisconsin.
“I don’t think anybody’s more qualified to be president or win this race than me,” he said.
When questioned whether he had the mental and physical ability to handle another four years in office, he said, “I wouldn’t be running if I did not think I did.”
On June 27, President Biden and his Republican rival faced off for 90 minutes in their first 2024 presidential debate at CNN’s Atlanta studio.
Following the debate, some Democrat lawmakers, media outlets, and pundits have been calling on President Biden to withdraw from the election.
The incumbent responded to criticisms of his debate performance during the ABC interview, describing it as “a bad episode” rather than a sign of a serious condition.
President Biden said that he “had a really bad cold.”
“I was exhausted. I didn’t listen to my instincts,” he said, “It was a bad night.”
During the interview, when questioned about reported efforts by Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va) to gather a group of senators to try to persuade him to drop out of the race, the president stated that he had different views but was not concerned about the opposition.
“Mark and I have a different perspective. I respect him,” he said.
ABC stated that it recorded the 22-minute interview with no cuts or edits.
With the general election just four months away, President Biden visited the critical battleground state of Wisconsin. During a campaign rally in Madison, the 81-year-old echoed a similar sentiment, assuring his supporters that he’s not stepping aside as the Democrats’ nominee.
