WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – President Joe Biden faced a new test on the future of his reelection campaign, a solo news conference, but many Democrats say he failed to alleviate their concerns.
The president spoke with reporters for about an hour, insisting he’s not leaving the race, even as more Democrats urge him to do so.
In his first solo press conference of the year President Biden shut down growing calls from fellow Democrats to end his reelection bid.
“I’ve got to finish this job because there’s so much at stake,” said Biden.
President Biden used the majority of the press conference on the last day of the NATO summit to tout his foreign policy acumen and accomplishments at home.
“Just this morning we had a great economic report showing inflation is down,” said Biden.
However, the president made a few slip-ups when referring to Vice President Kamala Harris, he mistakenly called her by another name.
“I wouldn’t have picked Vice President Trump to be vice president,” Biden said.
During the NATO summit President Biden mixed up the names of two world leaders, calling Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy President Putin.
“Ladies and gentlemen, President Putin… President Putin?! He’s gonna beat President Putin! President Zelenskyy,” Biden said.
Some Democrats praised the president’s performance including North Carolina Congressman Wiley Nickel.
“I’m hoping that he put most of those questions to bed tonight and we can start talking about the issues,” said Nickel.
A growing number of Congressional Democrats, including New York Congressman Pat Ryan, are calling on President Biden to drop out of the race arguing this election is all about beating former President Donald Trump.
“Joe Biden, as much as I respect and appreciate him, is not the strongest candidate to do that right now,” said Ryan.
The president continues to deny polling that shows he does not have a path to victory against Trump. He also told reporters he would take a neurological test if his doctors recommended one.
