President Biden said he looks forward to returning to the campaign trail “next week” after he recovers from COVID-19, publicly signaling he is committed to his candidacy despite more Democrats calling on him to quit the race.
Mr. Biden outlined his plan Friday in a statement condemning former President Donald Trump and the “dark” vision of America his rival outlined in a Thursday prime-time speech to the GOP convention.
“I look forward to getting back on the campaign trail next week to continue exposing the threat of Donald Trump’s Project 2025 agenda while making the case for my own record and the vision that I have for America: one where we save our democracy, protect our rights and freedoms, and create opportunity for everyone,” Mr. Biden said.
His vow to keep campaigning came as the number of Democratic lawmakers urging him to quit reached at least 30. Some top Democrats have said they believe Mr. Biden could drop out by this weekend.
Project 2025 is a policy document authored by the Heritage Foundation, a conservative Washington think tank. Mr. Trump has said it is not part of his platform, but Democrats have presented it as his agenda.
Beyond the proposal, Mr. Biden said Mr. Trump will further erode abortion rights and cannot be trusted to uphold democratic principles.
“Americans know exactly where he wants to take this country,” Mr. Biden said. “They know that he inflicted pain and cruelty on the women of America by overturning Roe v. Wade. They know that he destroyed our economy once and will inflict pain on the middle class, that he wants to gut the checks and balances of our Constitution and rule as a dictator on day one.”
Mr. Biden, 81, is in quarantine while he recovers from COVID-19. He insists he will remain the Democratic nominee, but much of his party is turning against him over concerns about his age and poor debate performance on June 27.
Luminaries such as former President Barack Obama and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi reportedly expressed their concerns behind closed doors.
“While the decision to withdraw from the campaign is President Biden’s alone, I believe it is in the best interests of our country for him to step aside,” Sen. Martin Heinrich, New Mexico Democrat, said Friday.
Mr. Biden and Mr. Trump both urged Americans to unify or calm their rhetoric after a gunman nearly assassinated Mr. Trump in Pennsylvania on Saturday, though they’re pivoting back to the mud-slinging.
During his speech, Mr. Trump paid tribute to Corey Comperatore, a former fire chief who was killed at the Pennsylvania rally. The former president then criticized the Biden administration over inflation, its foreign policy and immigration.
“It is a shame the damage this administration has done,” Mr. Trump said. “The damage that he has done to this country is unthinkable.”
He also mentioned “crazy” Nancy Pelosi, and called on Democrats to stop “destroying our country” and stop “weaponizing” the justice system against him.
Mr. Biden wasn’t impressed.
“The American people saw the same Donald Trump they rejected four years ago,” Mr. Biden said. “For over 90 minutes, he focused on his own grievances, with no plan to unite us and no plan to make life better for working people.”
• Seth McLaughlin contributed to this story.
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.
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