Biden tries to allay concerns about his fitness as Democrats debate his future

By Steve Holland, Andrea Shalal and Jeff Mason

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Joe Biden He sought to speak loudly and passionately in brief public remarks he delivered with a teleprompter at the White House on Thursday, as he faces scrutiny over his stamina and mental acuity after a poor performance in a debate.

The 81-year-old Democrat’s shaky performance in the June 27 debate with his Republican rival Donald Trump has sparked questions about his ability to maintain a grueling work pace over the next four and a half years and calls from some in his party to step down.

Vice President Kamala Harris is the leading contender to take his place in the Nov. 5 election if Biden were to step down, sources said, though her allies believe she can assuage concerns among voters and donors.

Biden hosted the annual July 4 Independence Day festivities at the White House on Thursday, including a barbecue for several thousand active-duty military personnel and their families.

Biden, in a suit and no tie, began his speech with an energetic “Happy Independence Day!”

Reading from a teleprompter, Biden made no major errors in his brief remarks, but at one point he appeared to deviate from the script to refer to a war cemetery that Trump refused to visit during his time in office.

Biden mingled and took selfies with some families before excusing himself and returning to the White House.

He will give an interview with ABC News on Friday that will air in full at 8 p.m. ET (0000 GMT Saturday) and will travel to Wisconsin the same day for a campaign rally.

Dozens of House Democrats are watching the issue closely and are prepared to ask Biden to step down if he falters in the ABC interview, a source told Reuters. Democrats view the November takeover of the House as crucial because it could be their last check on power in Washington if Trump returns to the White House and Republicans capture the Senate.

Biden faces a new reality since last week’s debate: Even if he doesn’t falter verbally or physically, serious concerns about his viability as a candidate are likely to persist. If he slurs his words or appears confused or bewildered, he will face new pressure to leave.

If reelected, Biden will be 86 at the end of his second term. Some of his former supporters are calling on him to step aside to preserve his legacy and reduce the chances of a second Trump presidency. With just four months until the election, a decision must be made quickly, they say.

Democrats, including their key allies, have left the door open for Harris to top the Democratic ticket.

SEEN BY THE DOCTOR

The White House has repeatedly said the president was suffering from a cold and jet lag on debate night. On Wednesday, White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden had not had a medical exam since his annual physical in February.

“He hasn’t been seen by the doctor. It’s a cold, guys. It’s a cold,” she said at a news briefing.

However, spokesman Andrew Bates said Thursday that Biden had seen a doctor after the debate. “Several days later, the president was checked for a cold and was recovering well,” he said.

Trump, 78, who made numerous false claims during the Atlanta debate, falsely claimed in a video posted on social media that he had ousted Biden from the race. He made disparaging comments about Harris in the same video, which Trump’s campaign confirmed.

Asked during a radio interview on WURD that aired Thursday morning whether there was reason for the American people to be concerned after last week’s debate, Biden said no.

“No, I had a bad debate,” he said, adding that this should not erase what he did as president for three and a half years.

Biden’s popularity in opinion polls took a hit after the debate. About 59% of Democrats in the Reuters/Ipsos poll said Biden was too old to work in government, a concern that has shown up persistently in opinion polls over the past year.

Biden met with a group of Democratic governors at the White House on Wednesday to make his case. Some told reporters afterward that they supported him.

On Sunday, Biden and his wife Jill are scheduled to address thousands at the National Education Association in Pennsylvania. Next week, he will host dozens of world leaders at the NATO summit in Washington and hold a rare solo news conference.

(Reporting by Steve Holland, Andrea Shalal and Jeff Mason; Editing by Heather Timmons, Stephen Coates, Frances Kerry and Deepa Babington)