Joe Biden Maintains Confidence He Could Have Defeated Donald Trump Had He Stayed in the US Election | US News
According to reports, Joe Biden is convinced he could have triumphed over Donald Trump in last month’s US presidential election had he remained in the race.
The current president, who is poised to transfer power to Mr. Trump next month, withdrew from the competition in July due to mounting pressure stemming from his low polling and a poor showing in a televised debate against his Republican counterpart.
He was subsequently succeeded by Kamala Harris as the Democratic Party candidate, who ultimately faced defeat against Mr. Trump in the election held in November.
Recent reports from The Washington Post suggest that both Mr. Biden and certain aides contend that at 82, he should have continued his campaign.
Sources familiar with their discussions have indicated that Mr. Biden and his advisers believe he was capable of defeating Mr. Trump, speaking on condition of anonymity to the publication.
File pic: Reuters
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In the 2020 election, Mr. Biden defeated Mr. Trump with an unprecedented number of votes, securing his first term and denying his opponent a second chance.
However, throughout his presidency, speculation arose regarding whether he would seek re-election in 2024 or opt for a one-term tenure.
Last April, he declared his intention to run for a second full term and entered the race for the 2024 Democratic nomination.
He presented the argument that after defeating Mr. Trump previously, despite concerns about his age, he could emerge victorious again.
File pic: Reuters
Nevertheless, after securing the Democratic nomination, Mr. Biden faced increasing pressure following a string of public blunders, including a moment in July when he mistakenly referred to Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as Russian President Vladimir Putin.
In February, he also errantly claimed to have met former French President Francois Mitterrand, who had passed away in 1996, during the G7 summit in 2021.
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From July – ‘Ladies and gentlemen: President Putin’
However, it was the disordered performance during a debate against Mr. Trump that ultimately led to Mr. Biden’s demise, with Democrats describing it as an “unmitigated disaster”, “a meltdown”, and “a slow-motion car crash”.
Just ten days after that debate, he declared his withdrawal from the race and extended his support to his vice president, Ms. Harris.
Unfortunately for her, Ms. Harris lost to Mr. Trump in the November election, granting the Republican a second term after successfully winning all the key battleground states and the popular vote.
Mr. Trump is now set to assume office on January 20.
