Biden says he is not the only Democrat who can beat Trump

President Biden admitted Wednesday that he is not the only Democrat who could defeat former President Donald J. Trump in next year’s election, but he made clear that he plans to stay in the race rather than passing on the torch give to a new generation.

Mr. Biden’s re-election campaign appeal to fellow party members is based on the argument that he is the Democrat best equipped to keep his impeached and indicted predecessor out of the Oval Office. But on Wednesday, the president was asked whether he believed other Democrats could prevail against Trump.

“Probably fifty,” Biden said. “I’m not the only one who could beat him. But I will beat him.”

The president’s comment came amid widespread doubts about it among Democrats, who worry that his low ratings portend a tough campaign to keep Trump away from the White House. At a campaign fundraiser in the Boston area, Mr. Biden said on Tuesday that “if Trump wasn’t running, I’m not sure I would be running,” suggesting how much his predecessor motivated his decision to run for office again. at the age of 81.

While polls show that most Democrats would prefer someone else to represent the party in next year’s elections, Biden’s case for another nomination is strengthened by the reality that there is no obvious replacement that inspires widespread confidence among Democrats that they can defeat Mr. Trump. .

Mr. Biden faces only long-term challengers in the Democratic primaries in Representative Dean Phillips of Minnesota and Marianne Williamson, the author. But several other ambitious Democrats are waiting in the wings in case Mr. Biden for some reason changes course and drops out, including Vice President Kamala Harris and the Govs. Gavin Newsom of California, Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan and JB Pritzker of Illinois.

Speaking to reporters after issuing a statement Wednesday on aid to Ukraine, Mr. Biden also rejected Republican attacks on his family’s business interests as Republicans in the House of Representatives pursue impeachment. Asked whether he had met with his son Hunter Biden’s business associates from other countries such as China and Ukraine, Mr Biden said: “I have not. It’s just a bunch of lies.”