WASHINGTON, July 9 – U.S. President Joe Biden vowed to push on with his re-election bid on Monday, dismissing the concerns of some fellow Democrats on Capitol Hill and donors that his persistence could cost their party the White House and Congress in the November election.
Biden, 81, said any candidates who doubt his ability should challenge him at the Democratic National Convention in August – an effort that stands no chance of success unless he lets the delegates he won in primaries this year consider other candidates.
“The bottom line here is that I am not going anywhere,” Biden said in a phone call he placed to MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” program. He repeated that message to donors on a private call later in the day, according to two sources on the call.
Biden faces a critical week as he tries to shore up a campaign that has been on defense since a shaky June 27 debate against Republican Donald Trump, which raised questions about his ability to do the job for another term.
On Monday, after the New York Times reported that visitor logs showed a doctor specializing in Parkinson’s disease visited the White House at least eight times from August through March, the White House said that Biden is not being treated for the illness.
“Has the president been treated for Parkinson’s? No. Is he being treated for Parkinson’s? No, he’s not. Is he taking medication for Parkinson’s? No,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said at a briefing.
