More Democrats called for Biden to bow out of the race.
President Joe Biden faced a critical point in his reelection bid as Democratic calls for him to exit the 2024 race continued to mount despite his efforts to shut them down.
A poor debate performance against Donald Trump in June reignited questions about Biden's age and fitness to carry out his campaign and serve another four years. While Biden defiantly insisted he was staying the course, he later announced on July 21 that he was dropping out of the 2024 presidential race.
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Toward the end of the presser, when asked if he would reconsider staying in the race if his team showed him data that showed Vice President Kamala Harris would fare better against Trump, Biden said: "No, unless they came back and said, There is no way you could win."
He continued in a whisper, "No one’s saying that. No poll says that."
"I think I am the best qualified to win," Biden said as his news conference neared an end. "But there are other people who could beat Trump, too."
"But it would be hard to start from scratch," he quickly added. "We talk about money raised. We are not doing bad. We've got about $220 million in the bank. We are doing well."
Asked if he is going to take a cognitive test before the election amid questions about his mental fitness in the wake of the debate, Biden said that if his doctor told him he needed to, he would.
Biden said he has taken three "significant" neurological exams during his presidency, most recently in February.
"They say I am in good shape," he said, reiterating that he is tested "every single day" on his neurological capacity in his job.
The president added, "No matter what I did, not everyone is going to be satisfied."
Biden said he is going to make the case to the American people that there are things his administration needs to finish, and the dangers posed by a Trump presidency.
"Do you think our democracy is under siege based on this [Supreme] Court? Do you think democracy is under siege based on Project 2025? Do you think he means what he says when he says he is going to do away with the civil service and eliminate the Department Education?"
"I mean, we've never been here before ... I've gotta finish this job because there's so much at stake," he said.
