The Blubber

President Biden on campaign call: "Let me say this as clearly as I possibly can as simply and straightforward as I can: I am running… no one’s pushing me out. I’m not leaving. I’m in this race to the end and we’re going to win."

President Joe Biden unexpectedly joined a Zoom call with campaign and Democratic National Committee staff on Wednesday, making a new effort to bolster his beleaguered candidacy, according to two participants on the call.

Amid reports that Biden is privately admitting to allies that his candidacy is at risk, the president affirmed his commitment to the race, acknowledging that the days following last week’s debate with former President Donald Trump have been challenging. The two participants, who were granted anonymity to discuss the sensitive issue, confirmed this.

“Let me say this as clearly and straightforward as I can: I am running … no one’s pushing me out. I’m not leaving. I’m in this race to the end and we’re going to win,” Biden declared on the call.

Biden’s assertiveness and determination, especially compared to his performance during last week’s debate, reassured several attendees who later discussed the call via text message.

Vice President Kamala Harris, whose prominence has increased as Democrats consider her a potential top-of-the-ticket candidate, sat beside Biden on the video call.

“We will not back down,” Harris stated. “We will follow our president’s lead. We will fight, and we will win.”

The president expressed his gratitude to everyone working on his campaign and emphasized the stakes involved. “There is no one I’d rather be in this battle with than all of you,” Biden said. “So let’s link arms. Let’s get this done. You, me, the vice president. Together.”