‘I’m Not Leaving’: Biden Makes Absolutely Clear on All-Staff Call He’s In ‘This Race to the End’

Zachary LeemanJul 3rd, 2024, 2:06 pm
 

President Joe Biden was joined by Vice President Kamala Harris in a White House staff call Wednesday where he reportedly assured his team that he’s “staying in.”

Numerous reports began dropping shortly into the call, which comes amid calls from some within Biden’s own party to potentially have him replaced on the Democratic Party ticket following his debate performance against former President Donald Trump last week on CNN.

“Feels scripted per person listening but message conveyed clearly is: he’s staying in,” Politico senior columnist Jonathan Martin reported on X.

“Let me say this as clearly as I possibly can as simply and straightforward as I can: I am running…no one’s pushing me out. I’m not leaving. I’m in this race to the end and we’re going to win,” Politico’s Elena Schneider reported, citing a source that was on the call.

According CNN’s Betsy Klein, Biden acknowledged that there have been “rough days” for the campaign.

CNN’s MJ Lee reported the call was described as a “pep talk” for Biden’s team.

The call also followed the White House pushing back on a New York Times report suggesting Biden had expressed doubt to a key ally about staying in the race.

The Times reported: “He knows if he has two more events like that, we’re in a different place’ by the end of the weekend, said the ally, referring to Mr. Biden’s halting and unfocused performance in the debate. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive situation.”

White House Senior Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates hit back at the Times story, calling it “absolutely false.”

During Biden’s call to his team, the Times dropped a post-debate poll showing Trump moving to a six point lead over the president.

UPDATE:

A source familiar with the call told Mediaite’s Tommy Christopher:

President Biden and Vice President Harris joined today’s all-staff call to thank their team and speak directly to the people on the ground working every single day to get them reelected. President Biden acknowledged the tough past few days, and said unequivocally to his team he is running for reelection and he is going to beat Donald Trump.

“I’m in this race to the end and we’re going to win because when Democrats unite, we will always win. Just as we beat Donald Trump in 2020, w’re going to beat him again in 2024.”

Vice President Harris added: “We will not back down. We will follow our President’s lead. We will fight, and we will win.”

The president ended by saying the stakes are far too high to back down: “There is no one I’d rather be in this battle with than all of you. So let’s link arms. Let’s get this done. You, me, the Vice President. Together.”

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Zachary Leeman

Zachary Leeman covered pop culture and politics at outlets such as Breitbart, LifeZette, BizPac Review, HollywoodinToto, and others. He is the author of the novel Nigh. He joined Mediaite in 2022.