President Biden in Harrisburg, Pa., on July 7, 2024. As lawmakers returned to Washington, Biden sent them a two-page letter telling them to stop speculating about his departure, because he's not leaving.
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President Biden sent a two-page letter to Democratic lawmakers on Monday to say that “I am firmly committed to staying in this race," saying speculation over his future was helping former President Donald Trump — and that it was time to stop.
“The question of how to move forward has been well-aired for over a week now. And it’s time for it to end. We have one job,” Biden said.
Biden, 81, has been insistent that he would continue his campaign even after he badly faltered in a debate with Trump — a performance that alarmed Democrats worried about his ability to run, win and govern. He has said he had a cold and jet lag, and has been working since to try to demonstrate he is still up to the job.
On Monday morning, he called in to MSNBC's "Morning Joe" and angrily defended his record and decision.
In his letter, Biden said he had spoken with party leaders and Democratic voters and said, “I am not blind” to the concerns expressed, but said: “I wouldn’t be running again if I did not absolutely believe I was the best person to beat Donald Trump in 2024.”
He said Democratic voters had spoken during the primaries — and that it was their decision to make, “not the press, not the pundits, not the big donors.”
“This was a process open to anyone who wanted run. Only three people chose to challenge me. One fared so badly that he left the primaries to run as an independent. Another attacked me for being too told and was soundly defeated,” he said, apparently referring to Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minn., respectively.
This is a continuing story and will be updated.
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