Amid discussions about replacing President Joe Biden as the Democratic candidate in the U.S. presidential race, First Lady Jill Biden stepped forward to defend him.
Jill Biden is giving a speech at a campaign rally held in North Carolina on the 28th (local time). (Photo by Yonhap News)
According to local media such as the Washington Post (WP) and the New York Times (NYT) on the 30th, Mrs. Biden appeared at a campaign event in North Carolina on the 28th (local time) wearing a dress emblazoned with the word "VOTE." Mrs. Biden had not typically worn politically charged clothing at official events, and this appearance drew attention as it came shortly after Biden's controversial loss in a TV debate.
During the TV debate on the 27th, concerns about President Biden's age resurfaced, sparking calls within the Democratic camp for a candidate replacement. Since Jill Biden is considered one of Joe Biden’s strongest political advisors, the media focused on her stance regarding the replacement talks. Her active campaigning is interpreted as a subtle indication of her husband's intention to complete the race.
The NYT interpreted Mrs. Biden’s choice to wear such attire at the campaign event as a powerful message in itself. President Biden also acknowledged his weaker debate performance during the event, stating, "I don’t debate as well as I used to, but I know how to be president," while making it clear he has no intention of withdrawing his candidacy.
Mrs. Biden said, "Joe is no longer a young man," adding, "After yesterday’s debate, he told me, ‘I don’t really know what happened. I wasn’t feeling well.’" Nevertheless, she said, "I told him, ‘We’re not going to let a 90-minute debate define the four years you’ve served as president,’" emphasizing, "What my husband knows is how to tell the truth, and he gets back up every time he falls."
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