Biden Campaign Vows to Continue Fight Despite Tester's Drop-Out Call

Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Senator Jon Tester has joined fellow Democrat Senator Sheldon Whitehouse in urging former Vice President Joe Biden to withdraw his presidential bid. However, the Biden campaign has doubled down on its determination to stay in the race.

In a defiant memo released on Thursday, the Biden campaign declared its unwavering commitment to the presidential race, dismissing calls from two Democratic senators for the former vice president to withdraw his bid amidst concerns over his age and health.

The memo, authored by Biden campaign manager Kate Bedingfield, asserted that "Joe Biden is the strongest candidate to defeat Donald Trump and unite this country." She stressed that Biden's decades of experience in government, coupled with his ability to connect with voters on a personal level, make him the ideal candidate to lead the nation.

Biden Campaign Vows to Continue Fight Despite Tester's Drop-Out Call

"Joe Biden is a leader who can unite this country and get things done. He has the experience, the temperament, and the compassion to lead us through these challenging times," Bedingfield wrote.

The Biden campaign's resolve to continue the fight came in response to growing speculation that Biden, who is currently isolating at home after testing positive for COVID-19, might consider dropping out of the race. Those concerns were further fueled by the decision of Senator Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island to publicly call for Biden to withdraw.

On Tuesday, Whitehouse issued a statement saying that Biden's age and health warranted a reassessment of his candidacy. He argued that Biden, who is 78 years old, would face unprecedented challenges in serving as president, particularly given the demands of the job and the ongoing health crisis.

"I believe that it is time for us to have a national conversation about whether we should have a 78-year-old president," Whitehouse said. "I am very concerned about the health risks that come with having a president of that age, especially in the midst of a global pandemic."

However, the Biden campaign has vehemently rejected these concerns, arguing that Biden's physical and mental health are excellent. In a statement released earlier this week, Biden's physician, Dr. Kevin O'Connor, said that Biden "remains fit to successfully execute the duties of the Presidency."

"Vice President Biden is a healthy, vigorous 78-year-old man, who is fully capable of demanding schedules, and he remains fit to successfully execute the duties of the Presidency," Dr. O'Connor wrote.

The Biden campaign has also pointed to the former vice president's strong performance in the polls as evidence of his fitness for office. Biden has consistently led the Democratic field in national polling, and he has also been leading in key swing states.

"Joe Biden is the clear frontrunner in the Democratic race, and he has the momentum and the support to win," Bedingfield said. "We are confident that Joe Biden will be the nominee and that he will defeat Donald Trump in November."

Despite the Biden campaign's confidence, the calls for Biden to withdraw are unlikely to subside. With the Iowa caucuses just over a month away, the pressure on Biden to prove his fitness for office will only intensify.