Biden's Fate Hangs in the Balance after Disastrous Debate

With calls for him to step aside growing louder, President Biden faces a crucial test in the swing state of Wisconsin as he attempts to prove his mettle and salvage his re-election campaign.

As President Joe Biden fights to salvage his faltering re-election campaign following a disastrous debate performance last week, the next few days may determine his political future. With calls from within his own party to end his bid growing louder, Biden faces a crucial test on Friday in Wisconsin, a battleground state that could play a key role in his chances of victory.

The 81-year-old president will hold a rally in Wisconsin and participate in a prime-time interview with ABC News as he aims to prove that he still has the fortitude to defeat former President Donald Trump in a 2024 rematch. On Sunday, he and First Lady Jill Biden will appear in Pennsylvania, another key swing state.

Biden's Fate Hangs in the Balance after Disastrous Debate

Biden's debate performance sparked widespread panic in the Democratic Party, leading to calls from political pundits, editorial writers, and party donors for him to step aside as the party's standard-bearer. This week, three House Democrats publicly called on Biden to withdraw, while more than a dozen members of Congress and governors raised concerns about his ability to continue as the party's nominee.

Faced with a slew of negative polls and mounting pressure, the president has insisted that he has no intention of dropping out of the race. "I'm the Democratic Party's nominee. No one is pushing me out. I'm not leaving, I'm in this race to the end, and WE are going to win this election," Biden wrote in a text to supporters Wednesday afternoon.

Biden's Fate Hangs in the Balance after Disastrous Debate

The president's campaign team has repeatedly stated that Biden is determined to stay in the race. However, sources with knowledge of a meeting between the president and Democratic governors on Wednesday night said that Biden faced questions about his health, stamina, and political viability going forward.

Despite supportive comments from Democratic Governors Association chair Tim Walz and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, Moore also noted that "we always believe that when you when you love someone, you tell them the truth. And I think we came in, and we were honest about the feedback that we were getting."

Biden's Fate Hangs in the Balance after Disastrous Debate

In interviews on Thursday morning, Biden acknowledged his mistakes at the debate, but hours later at an Independence Day celebration at the White House, he reiterated that "I'm not going anywhere."

With time running out, Biden needs to quickly prove his mettle to both his party and voters. "He has got a very short period of time to talk to the American people," Rep. Debbie Dingell of Michigan told CNN.

Biden's Fate Hangs in the Balance after Disastrous Debate

A positive performance in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania could help quell concerns within the Democratic Party and reassure voters that Biden is still fit to serve as president. However, another poor showing could further damage his campaign and make it even more difficult for him to win re-election.