U.S. President Joe Biden corrects himself after accidentally introducing Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky as Russia's President Vladimir Putin during the Ukraine Compact initiative on the sidelines of the NATO Summit in Washington on July 11.Thursday evening, as he fought for his political life amid mounting concerns about his age and mental fitness that have led to calls from fellow Democrats for him to end his re-election campaign.in the election and serve another term, the U.S.
He also insisted that he should be judged by his effectiveness in office, both in passing laws domestically and rallying the world to help Ukraine fight off Russia’s invasion. “I am getting the job done. Can you name me somebody who’s gotten more legislation in three and a half years?” he said. “I’m not in this for my legacy. I’m in this to complete the job I started.”
It was not immediately clear whether Mr. Biden’s confidence – and his insistence he would not quit the race – would be enough to allay fears. In response to the first question of the evening, for instance, when asked about Ms. Harris’s qualifications for the presidency, he replied: “I wouldn’t have picked Vice-President Trump to be Vice-President did I think she was not qualified to be President.”
Fears that Mr. Biden lacks the mental acuity to lead the country have dominated the presidential race since the debate. During that encounter with Mr. Trump, Mr. Biden had trouble forming sentences, trailed off at times and stumbled over his words. He also appeared physically diminished, standing with his mouth agape and speaking in a quiet, raspy voice.
So far, more than a dozen members of Congress, one state lieutenant-governor, a former member of cabinet and scores of other party officials have called on Mr. Biden to drop out of the race. Under such a scenario, the Democratic National Convention in Chicago next month would choose a replacement.