President Joe Biden sought to regain his momentum and reassure supporters at a fundraiser on Saturday, emphasising his determination to defeat Donald Trump. “I didn’t have a great night, but I’m going to be fighting harder,” Biden told attendees at the home of New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy.
Joe Biden underscored the threat he believes Donald Trump poses to the nation, stating, “Donald Trump is a genuine threat to the nation,” and warning that Trump’s return to the White House would undermine democracy and exacerbate inflation.
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Joe Biden’s performance at the first presidential debate on Thursday had left many Democrats concerned, particularly given Trump’s lingering influence following the January 6, 2021, insurrection. Biden’s faltering responses during the debate prompted The New York Times editorial board to suggest he should withdraw from the race, calling his continued candidacy a “reckless gamble.”
On a call with historian Jon Meacham
A White House official, speaking anonymously, clarified that Biden had preplanned time at Camp David on Sunday and Monday for a family photo, countering an NBC News report suggesting Joe Biden would be discussing his reelection campaign’s future with his family. On his way to Camp David, Joe Biden was seen talking by phone with historian Jon Meacham.
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Earlier on Saturday, Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, attended a campaign event in East Hampton, New York, at the home of Avram Glazer, owner of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The event was closed to the media. The couple then attended a second event in East Hampton at the home of investor Barry Rosenstein, where Jill Biden praised her husband as “a role model for what it is to get knocked down over and over and over again and get up.”
‘Big takeaway was his lies’
Addressing donors, Biden criticized Trump’s presidential record, including his treatment of veterans, and pointed to the poor debate performance by Donald Trump. He asserted that polling showed Democrats gaining ground after the debate, noting, “The big takeaway was his lies.”
In the days following the debate, Biden appeared more vigorous in speeches in North Carolina and New York, expressing his firm belief in his ability to fulfill the presidency’s demands. The Biden campaign reported raising over $27 million on Thursday and Friday, including $3 million at a New York City fundraiser focused on the LGBTQ+ community.
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Jill Biden recounted her husband’s post-debate reaction, quoting him as saying, “You know, Jill, I don’t know what happened. I didn’t feel that great.” She responded, “Look, Joe, we are not going to let 90 minutes define the four years that you’ve been president.”
Challenges for Joe Biden
Despite these reassurances, Joe Biden faces the challenge of alleviating fears ignited by the debate, which circulated widely online. Democratic donors in New York, Southern California, and Silicon Valley privately expressed concerns about Biden’s campaign viability.
They discussed potential replacements, including Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, California Governor Gavin Newsom, and Vice President Kamala Harris. However, no formal push to replace Biden emerged, given the logistical difficulties of changing the presumptive nominee so close to Election Day.
Some donors indicated they would pause their contributions, noting that weekend fundraiser receipts would likely be strong as tickets had been sold prior to the debate.
