U.S President Joe Biden has refused to step down from his presidential ambition despite his poor health condition.
Biden, 81, has increasingly received calls from Americans and Democrats to resign but has insisted on continuing his bid for a second term.
“The stakes are high, and the choice is clear. Together, we will win,” the 81-year-old said in a statement from the Delaware beach home where he is in Covid isolation.
“I look forward to getting back on the campaign trail next week,” Biden added, as his doctor said the president was bouncing back from the symptoms of the disease.
Ten more House Democrats and two senators joining the list of lawmakers publicly calling on him to quit November’s election clash with Donald Trump after his political health appeared far worsened.
A disappointing debate performance against Trump three weeks ago triggered panic about Biden’s age and health as more than 30 House Democrats and four senators have now called on him to drop out.
Vice President Kamala Harris, the front-runner to succeed him as the Democratic presidential candidate if Biden does drop out, was holding an emergency call with donors on Friday.
Biden’s campaign however pushed back against reports that he would bow out, saying that while there had been some “slippage” in support, he was still the best candidate.
“Absolutely the president’s in this race,” campaign chairwoman Jen O’Malley Dillon told MSNBC’s Morning Joe program. “Joe Biden is more committed than ever to beat Donald Trump.”
