Biden stands firm on critical night - but gaffes mar fightback

Joe Biden stood at the podium during his Thursday evening press briefing, facing high stakes that could determine the future of his presidency, his chances for re-election, and his entire political career.

During the hour-long session to mark the end of a Nato summit, he seemed to barely register the importance of the situation. Before that, he mistakenly referred to Ukraine's President Zelensky as "President Putin" at a different event.

This was the first time he spoke without a prepared script following a terrible debate performance against his opponent Donald Trump. As a result, many Democratic officials and supporters are urging him to withdraw from the presidential race.

Mr. Biden, who is 81 years old, has been consistently questioned about his age and capacity to take on another term, with concerns heightened following the debate.

However, during the much-awaited press conference, he ignored the worries about his campaign that were repeatedly brought up by a crowd of reporters and assured that he was not seeking to protect his reputation, but to complete the work he began when he assumed office in 2021.

"When I start to work at a slower pace and struggle to complete the task, it may indicate that it's not the right job for me," he explained. "However, I haven't experienced that situation yet."

Based on how you look at it, some may see it as unwavering perseverance, while others may view it as refusing to admit the severity of the situation.

Shortly after the press conference ended, additional Democratic Congress members urged Mr. Biden to resign. This adds to the growing number of lawmakers from his own party who have made the same demand.

The big question for Joe Biden's campaign is whether a flood of support will come pouring in, or if his momentum will stay steady.

Two painful mistakes were made that will stick in the memory of those who saw them, making the situation even worse.

In his initial response, he mistakenly referred to Vice-President Kamala Harris as "Vice-President Trump" – an embarrassing mistake on live TV.

Just an hour later, there was another big mistake at an event for Nato. President Biden accidentally called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky "President Putin," causing the audience to gasp loudly.

He immediately fixed the first mistake he made while talking about Ukraine's leader. However, he didn't notice the second mistake, even though some journalists in the room whispered in astonishment and his top Cabinet secretaries looked serious in the front row.

The only significant issues in an otherwise consistent, though lackluster, performance may raise concerns for anxious Democrats about the possibility of more mistakes if the president continues his campaign.

However, for the time being, Mr. Biden appeared to be in good spirits, determined to keep moving forward. Despite being bombarded with questions, he maintained a cheerful demeanor, emphasizing his ability to stand up to leaders like Russia's Vladimir Putin and China's Xi Jinping. Although he seemed to still be suffering from the hoarseness and cough that were evident during his debate two weeks ago, he remained optimistic.

Once more, he reiterated his refusal to take cognitive tests, stating to the press that even if he consulted with "two doctors or seven", his detractors would still not be pleased.

He spoke about how the election campaign had just begun, emphasizing his belief that he could defeat Donald Trump in the upcoming November election.

The Democratic delegates who have pledged their support for him to be the party's nominee at the upcoming convention could change their decision if they wanted to, he mentioned. However, he jokingly added in a quiet voice, "But that's not going to happen."

He mentioned that he might be willing to move aside if his team provides him with information indicating that he is unlikely to win, even though recent polls indicate that the competition is very close.

When it comes to this topic, he is in a secure position. A recent Ipsos poll, which came out on Thursday, showed that Mr. Biden was only trailing his rival by one point, which falls within the margin of error. Throughout this year, it has been evident that support for both candidates has stayed consistent, even with all the intense events happening around them.

Relying solely on polls won't ease the worry that many Democratic leaders are feeling, and the challenges still surrounding Biden's campaign won't just disappear.

More Democratic politicians are ready to step forward and announce their split from the president after the Nato summit. Reports suggest they have been waiting for the right moment to voice their concerns.

That was only the beginning of the challenges for the struggling president. He will have another important interview, this time with NBC's Lester Holt, on Monday. Supporters are worried, and there have been reports that people within the president's campaign are considering ways to encourage their candidate to step down.

Nevertheless, Mr. Biden emphasized that winning the nomination from him will not be easy. The 81-year-old man, who occasionally held onto the podium with both hands and claimed he was the most qualified individual to lead the country, will not go away quietly.