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“I was feeling terrible,” says Biden in first TV interview since debate

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Biden said he had some infection during the first TV debate with his rival Donald Trump.

Washington:

Joe Biden on Friday vowed to stay in the race for the White House and blamed his dismal debate performance on “feeling terrible” due to a cold as he tried to salvage his re-election campaign with a pivotal TV interview.

As rebellion grows among some nervous Democratic voters, lawmakers and donors, the face-off with ABC has been called the most important of the 81-year-old’s long career.

“I was sick, I was feeling terrible… We were trying to figure out what was wrong,” the president said in an excerpt from his first TV interview since the debate with Donald Trump.

“They did a test to see whether or not I had an infection, you know, a virus. I didn’t. I just had a really bad cold.”

Biden sounded hoarse and gave meandering answers in the clip, which seemed unlikely to reassure Democrats.

The Trump campaign offered a quick mocking reaction, posting on X that “Biden looks great!”

The meeting – which was due to be broadcast in full on Friday, took place after Biden’s debate in Atlanta sparked panic within his party and calls for him to drop out of the race.

Biden’s campaign strongly rejected any suggestion that he might drop out and, just hours before the ABC interview, released an aggressive campaign travel schedule for the rest of July.

Appearing at a campaign rally in Madison, Wisconsin, the president gave a forceful speech, declaring unequivocally: “I will stay in the race. I will beat Donald Trump.”

As the fans applauded, he went on the attack against his rival.

– Polls point to Trump –

“Let’s focus on what really matters,” Biden said, reading from teleprompters. “We are competing against the biggest liar and the biggest threat…to our democracy in American history – that’s no exaggeration.”

Post-debate polls showed a widening deficit in Trump’s favor, and at least three Democrats in Congress called for Biden to step aside, as did several major newspapers and a number of political commentators who support Democrats.

Wealthy Disney heiress and Democratic supporter Abigail Disney told CNBC she plans to withhold donations to the party until Biden drops out, saying bluntly that “if Biden doesn’t resign, Democrats will lose” in November.

“That’s realism, not disrespect,” she said.

Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Mark Warner approached other Democrats to organize talks on Monday about Biden’s path forward, multiple US media outlets reported.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries was calling his own meeting — a video call with senior Democrats — on Sunday, according to NBC News.

Former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, one of the most influential Democratic voices, considered it “essential” that he do more important interviews to prove his worth.

The White House announced that it will hold a press conference during the NATO summit in Washington next Thursday, but did not reveal any details about its format or duration.

Biden’s travel plans include Pennsylvania this weekend, then the NATO meeting and a return to the campaign trail with a visit to the American Southwest.

The president will “engage in frequent impromptu moments throughout the month, as he has done consistently throughout this campaign,” his team said, seeking to emphasize his folksy charm.

Meanwhile, Trump challenged Biden to another debate, or a “general discussion,” saying he was ready “anytime, anywhere, anywhere.”

With speculation swirling about a potential change in the Democratic ticket, Kamala Harris, the country’s first female vice president, was suddenly in the spotlight.

The 59-year-old former prosecutor has offered unwavering support for Biden in public but remains a key alternative should he step aside.

(Except the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)



This story originally appeared on Ndtv.com read the full story

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