Button undone and no tie, Biden says, "I can't walk or debate like before, but I can do it"

Campaign Rally in North Carolina on the 28th... Rejecting Calls for Candidate Replacement

"I will not run again unless I truly believe I can do this job (presidency)."

President Joe Biden emphasized his determination to win the presidential election and dismissed calls for a candidate replacement both inside and outside the party. On the 28th, during an indoor campaign event held in Raleigh, North Carolina, one of the battleground states, Biden said, "I came to North Carolina for only one reason," adding, "Because I intend to win this state in November (the election)."

On the 28th, U.S. President Joe Biden is giving a speech at a campaign rally in Raleigh, North Carolina.
[Photo by AFP/ Yonhap News]

The day after the TV debate, President Biden stressed here, "I honestly believe I can do this job." During his speech, Biden appeared to dispel concerns about his health and cognitive abilities due to his advanced age by loosening two buttons on his shirt collar without a tie. He showed passion by raising his voice at times during the speech.

Recognizing concerns about his 'age risk,' Biden said, "I don't walk as comfortably as I used to, and I don't debate as well," but emphasized, "I know right from wrong, I know how to carry out the presidency, and I know how to get the job done."

He continued, "Unlike that person (Trump), we will stand up to dictators like Putin (the Russian president). America will not bow to anyone," and the audience cheered, shouting "Four more years."

Earlier, on the 27th (local time), during the first TV debate between presidential candidates, Biden faced controversy over his health and cognitive abilities due to his age of 81. He made statements that were out of context and stammered with a weak and hoarse voice. As a result, calls for a candidate replacement were even raised within and outside the party.

Seemingly aware of this, President Biden acknowledged, "I know I am not a young man," and admitted, "I don't walk as comfortably as I used to, I don't speak as fluently as before, and I don't debate as well as I used to."

However, he added, "I know what I know for sure, and I know how to speak the truth," saying, "I know how to distinguish right from wrong, I know how to carry out this job (presidency), and I know how to get the job done." He reiterated, "Like many Americans, I know how to get back up when I fall."

"Donald Trump, Lies Upon Lies"

President Biden focused his attacks on former President Trump, repeatedly using expressions such as "morality at the level of a stray cat" and "a convicted felon." He added, "We will not let former President Trump be in office in 2026, the 250th anniversary of the American Declaration of Independence," emphasizing, "More than anything else, we will preserve, protect, and defend our democracy."

First Lady Jill Biden also took the stage before President Biden, wearing a dress adorned with multiple letters spelling 'VOTE.' She attacked former President Trump, saying, "Last night on the debate stage, President Joe Biden, who has integrity and character, spoke the truth, while Donald Trump repeated lie after lie."

Michael Tyler, spokesperson for Biden's presidential campaign, during a briefing on the presidential plane en route to New York, dismissed the so-called candidate replacement theory, stating, "There is no discussion about that," and asserted, "Democratic voters chose Joe Biden as the candidate, and President Biden is the presidential candidate."

At a campaign rally in Raleigh, North Carolina, on the 28th, Dr. Jill Biden, wife of U.S. President Joe Biden, is campaigning in support of the President.
Photo by Reuters Yonhap News

He continued, "What was actually shown to the American people in last night's debate is that the threat posed by Trump has materialized," adding, "Yesterday, we raised $14 million (approximately 1.93 billion KRW)," and said, "In fact, 11 p.m. last night was the most successful grassroots fundraising hour."

Former U.S. President Barack Obama posted on X (formerly Twitter) that day, saying, "Debates sometimes don't go well. Still, this election is a choice between someone who has fought for ordinary people and someone who only thinks of themselves," lending support to President Biden, who suffered a defeat in the previous day's TV debate.