President Joe Biden had a few stumbles but survived a pivotal solo press conference on Thursday night as intra-party fighting and a shrinking electoral college map threaten his path to a second term in the White House. In short, he did well — and it may not matter.
Biden's first solo press conference of the year came as Democrats publicly called for him to leave the race over skepticism that he could win in November and effectively run the country. Democrat leaders considered it a make-or-break moment for the president, advocating for people to reserve judgment on his candidacy until after the presser.
During the first question of the press conference, Biden accidentally called Vice President Kamala Harris, vice president "Trump." However, he defended his domestic and foreign policy record, challenging reporters to find world leaders or experts who disagreed with his success as president.
"I'm not here for my legacy," Biden told reporters when asked about whether his legacy would be better if he stepped down from the campaign. He later added, "I'm determined on running ... I'm going out to the places we think we can win."
Maria Cardona, a Democrat political strategist, gave Biden high remarks for his press conference. She posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, that Biden "looks and sounds great." She acknowledged he has a few flubs, but he was "in command of facts" and showed "his strength."
Paul Begala, a former advisor to former President Bill Clinton, called Biden's press conference a "tour de force" and said Biden had the substance at his command. However, he told CNN's Anderson Cooper that Biden's style wasn't as strong as it was during his inaugural address.
Some of Biden's closest aides have been increasingly vocal about their concerns regarding his chances of securing reelection. These advisors, once supporters, are now urging the president to consider stepping aside.
"He needs to drop out," one Biden campaign official told NBC News. "He will never recover from this."
The concern among Biden's aides reflects a broader unease within the Democratic Party. Recent polls have shown the majority of voters don't want Biden to remain the nominee and Democrats have expressed concerns that Biden's low approval rating could drag down other candidates in House and Senate races. This internal strife has created a sense of urgency within the campaign, as advisors scramble to find a strategy to help Biden continue.
"I'm concerned about him dragging the ticket down," Democratic Illinois Representative Mike Quigley, who has called for Biden to exit the race, said.
Biden's campaign team has identified Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin as crucial battleground states that could determine the outcome of the 2024 election, according to a memo obtained by the Associated Press. These states, pivotal in his 2020 victory, are now seen as increasingly challenging terrain. The electoral college map appears to have shrunk for Biden, as Arizona, Nevada and Georgia were left off the list of Biden's clearest path to winning re-election.
In 2020, Biden's victories in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin were instrumental in securing his win over then-President Donald Trump. However, recent polling data suggests that these states aren't guaranteed for the Democrats in 2024.
Recent Morning Consult polls have Biden only winning Michigan by five points, Wisconsin by three and Biden losing to Trump in Pennsylvania.
Ahead of Biden's speech, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries signaled that he would wait to hear from the entire Democratic caucus before making any decisions about whether Biden should continue his reelection bid.
Jeffries' cautious approach underscores the uncertainty within the Democratic Party. While there is a general sense of loyalty to Biden, there is also a growing recognition that the party needs to present a strong, united front if it hopes to retain the White House. The potential for a contested primary, should Biden decide to step aside, looms large over the party's strategic calculations.
During Thursday's press conference, Biden denied that he doesn't have the physical strength to continue serving as president. Reacting to reports that he needed to go to bed earlier, he said he just needed to pace himself and instead of having fundraisers starting at 9 p.m., they should start at 8 p.m. so people can go home earlier.
"My schedule has been full-bore," Biden said. "I have, I don't know how many, 20 major events, some with thousands of people showing up ... I just got to pace myself a little more."
Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump continues to be a formidable opponent. Polls indicate that Trump's popularity remains robust, especially in swing states. A recent survey highlighted that in New York, a traditionally Democratic stronghold, Trump is gaining ground.
"Independent voters in New York who traditionally vote for Democrats, according to exit polling, have flipped to lean toward Trump by a margin of ten points, 43 percent to 33 percent," Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling, said of the May polling.
The former president's ability to galvanize his supporters and dominate the media landscape has kept him at the forefront of American politics. For Biden, this means not only contending with internal party dynamics but also preparing for a potential rematch with a highly motivated and well-organized opponent.
The combination of internal dissent, a narrowing path to electoral victory, and a hesitant endorsement from party leadership creates a tumultuous environment for the incumbent President. How Biden navigates these challenges in the coming months if he remains the nominee will be crucial to his political future and the direction of the Democratic Party.
In the face of these challenges, Biden has remained publicly steadfast. Speaking at a recent rally, he emphasized his administration's accomplishments and stood defiant in the face of calls for him to withdraw from the election.
"For over two centuries, America has been a free democratic nation. And I'll be damned if in the year 2024, just two years before our 250th anniversary of a nation, I'll let Donald Trump take this away," Biden said.
While Biden's maintained that he'll stay in the race, some are skeptical that's going to be an option for him.
"No matter what he does, it'll never be enough for the press corps or those people who want him to step aside", a former administration official told Politico. "And anyone who pretends after this that it's the thing that convinced them he needs to step down—those people are cowards. If you think that, fine, but you should have said so before now."
Almost immediately after the press conference, Representative Jim Himes called for Biden to step aside, making him the 15th congressional Democrat to do so.
Ashley Etienne, former communications director for Vice President Kamala Harris, also appeared skeptical that Biden would be able to save his campaign. She told Cooper that he may have bought himself time but added, "I'm not sure it will stop the bleeding."
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About the writer
Jenni Fink is a senior editor at Newsweek, based in New York. She leads the National News team, reporting on ... Read more
