President Joe Biden said he will remain in the 2024 reelection race, even as he has battled a new COVID diagnosis and older objections from some in his party who believe it is time for him to retire.
Biden announced he had tested positive for COVID-19 days ago and will keep isolating at his Delaware residence through the end of this week.
In a statement from the campaign on Friday, 81-year-old Biden said, "Donald Trump's dark vision of the future is not who America is. As a party and as a nation, together, we have the capacity and determination to soundly defeat him at the ballot box."
Looking ahead to resuming campaign activities next week, Biden said he would zero in on what he called the dangers of Donald Trump's Project 2025 agenda and tout his own accomplishments, along with his vision for the country: one in which democracy is protected, rights and freedoms defended, and opportunity exists for all.
Biden criticized Trump's speech at the Republican National Convention Thursday, saying, "He spoke for over 90 minutes last night and yet we didn't hear one word about his plan to take on the crises facing working people; to unite this nation so we can move forward."
"He didn't mention Project 2025, but he proudly rattled off the worst of MAGA extremism," Biden said.
The Biden-Harris campaign labeled Trump's speech a long-winded rehash of his familiar themes, which claimed that, for all its rhetoric about being unifying and measured, Trump's speech was intensely personal, full of attacks on opponents, airing grievances, and with provocative statements to fire up his base.
"Trump is still the same twice-impeached, 34-time convicted felon consumed by revenge and hellbent on seeking retribution in a second term. He didn't turn over a new leaf; he didn't usher in a new era of civility; and he certainly didn't change course," the campaign said.
Since Wednesday's COVID-19 diagnosis that caused Biden to trim his journey to Las Vegas and head back home in a rush, Democrats have been divided on whether he could defeat Trump in November. At least 10 Democrats joined those calling for Biden to step aside by Friday.
Essentially, Biden is not relenting on his re-election campaign in spite of the challenges and underscores his different vision for America if compared with President Trump's policies and rhetoric.
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