Joe Biden says only ‘Lord Almighty’ could convince him to quit White House race

US President Joe Biden insisted that his goal was to defeat his Republican rival and former President Donald Trump, adding that only “Lord Almighty” could persuade him to withdraw himself from the race, The Guardian reported.

His remarks came amid a section of Democrats calling on the 81-year-old president to pull himself out of the race following a shaky performance at the June 27 presidential debate, which saw him slipping up, stammering, appearing confused and perceived loss of train of thought.

Biden, who is the oldest US President, has been under the scanner over his mental health and age concerns and whether he is fit to serve another four-year term. The Democrat leader has repeatedly insisted he was fine.

In an interview with George Stephanopoulos of ABC News on Friday, Biden said, “Look. I mean, if the Lord Almighty came down and said, ‘Joe, get out of the race’, I’d get out of the race,” he said, adding, “The Lord Almighty’s not coming down.”

He also dismissed his lacklustre performance at the presidential debate as a “bad episode” and took full responsibility for what transpired. “I just had a bad night. I don’t know why,” he said.

Biden also refused to get a detailed cognitive test done and make the results public to reassure voters he is fit to run for a second time in office.

“I have a cognitive test every single day. Every day I have that test – everything I do (is a test),” he said.

The 81-year-old Democrat insisted that fatigue was the only issue and that there were “no indications of any serious condition”. “I was exhausted. I didn’t listen to my instincts in terms of preparing,” Biden said.

He further said it was no one else’s fault but his own, admitting that he had been feeling “terrible” before the debate and mentioned undergoing a Covid-19 test and checks for other infections, all of which came back negative. “I just had a really bad cold.”

The President also mentioned the ongoing assessments by his personal doctors, who he said would not hesitate to inform him if something were wrong. “Can I run the 100 in 10 flat? No. But I’m still in good shape,” Biden remarked.

Despite the debate setback, Biden exuded confidence about having what it takes to beat Trump, brushing off growing concerns and polls showing him trailing the Republican. “I don’t think anyone is more qualified,” he stated.

He also noted that Trump’s disruptions during the debate had been distracting, admitting, “I realised that, even when I was answering a question and they turned his mic off, he was still shouting and I let it distract me. I’m not blaming it on that. But I realised that I just wasn’t in control.”

The interview, along with campaign stops in battleground states Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, is part of Biden’s effort to win back voters after his faltering debate performance. At the Wisconsin rally, he doubled down on staying in the race, declaring, “I’m running and going to win.”