In a lighthearted yet politically charged moment, US President Joe Biden made a humorous gaffe during a campaign rally in Madison, Wisconsin, on Friday when he mistakenly declared he would beat Donald Trump "again in 2020" instead of 2024. Quickly catching his error, Biden corrected himself and confidently asserted his intention to win "again in 2024." This slip of the tongue comes amid rising concerns among some Democrats about the 81-year-old president's capability to serve a second term, especially following his underwhelming performance in the first presidential debate with Trump.
Addressing a crowd of enthusiastic supporters, Biden tackled these concerns head-on, reiterating his commitment to the race. Acknowledging the speculation about his future, he stated, "I am running, and I am going to win again," to loud cheers. Despite facing pressure from some quarters to step aside, Biden remained resolute, reminding his supporters of their decision to elect him as the Democratic nominee. "I'm staying in the race. I'll beat Donald Trump. I will beat him again in 2020," he said, before immediately correcting himself to "2024."
Biden emphasized that he would not let a 90-minute debate overshadow his achievements over the past three-and-a-half years. This wasn't the only recent blunder by the president, however. On Thursday, Biden mistakenly referred to himself as the "first black woman to serve with a black president" while attempting to highlight his tenure as vice president under Barack Obama and his selection of Kamala Harris as his vice president.
In response to these missteps, the White House has been quick to defend Biden. Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre categorically denied reports suggesting that Biden might reconsider his candidacy. This statement followed a New York Times article claiming that Biden had expressed concerns to a key ally about his campaign's viability if future public appearances did not go well. Despite these rumors, the ally emphasized Biden's unwavering commitment to his re-election campaign.
During the presidential debate, Biden appeared to struggle with finishing sentences, seemed confused at times, and spoke with a hoarse voice, which aides attributed to a cold. Biden himself downplayed these issues, attributing them to fatigue and asserting there were no signs of any serious health condition.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll revealed that one in three Democrats believe Biden should end his re-election bid after his poor debate performance. Nevertheless, the poll also indicated that no prominent elected Democrat would fare better than Biden in a hypothetical matchup against Trump.
