President Joe Biden is responding to a poll showing a majority of Americans do not want him to run again.
ABC News’ Mary Bruce noted, “You’ve said questions about your age are legitimate and your response is always ‘just watch me.'”
“But the country is watching and recent polling shows that 70% of Americans, including a majority of Democrats, believe you shouldn’t run again,” she continued.
Bruce asked, “What do you say to them? What do you say to those Americans who are watching and aren’t convinced? You’ve said you can beat Trump again, do you think you’re the only one?”
“I may not be the only one. But I know him well and I know the danger he presents to our democracy. And we’ve been down this road before,” Biden began.
He went on, “And with regard to age and, you know, polling data, I notice the polling data I keep hearing about is that I’m between 42% and 46% favorable rating, et cetera. But everybody running for re-election in this time has been in this position — there’s nothing new about that. You’re making it sound like Biden’s really underwater.”
Watch the video below:
ABC's @MaryKBruce to Biden: "You've said questions about your age are legitimate and your response is always 'just watch me,' but the country is watching and recent polling shows that 70% of Americans…believe you shouldn't run again. What do you say to them?" pic.twitter.com/vgb8Xf2DBv
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) April 26, 2023
Bruce asked, “To be clear though, you just said I know him well. Did Donald Trump’s decision to run affect yours? Would you be running if he wasn’t?”
“Yeah, I still think I would be running if he wasn’t. I do know him well. He’s not hard to know,” Biden responded. “You know him well, too.”
He added, “Look there’s more to finish the job. We have an opportunity to put ourselves in a position where we are economically and politically secure for a long time.”
ABC’s @MaryKBruce: “To be clear…you just said I know him well. Did Donald Trump’s decision to run affect yours? Would you be running if he wasn’t?”
Biden: “Yeah, I still think I would be running if he wasn’t. I do know him well. He’s not hard to know…You know him well, too.” pic.twitter.com/TzgcFChXOU
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) April 26, 2023
Addressing concerns about his age, the president said, “I can’t even say — I guess how old I am, I can’t even say the number. It doesn’t register with me.”
“But the only thing I can say is that… people are going to see a race and they’re going to judge whether or not I have it or don’t have it. I respect them taking a hard look at it. I’d take a hard look at it as well,” he continued.
BIDEN: "I can't even say…how old I am…" pic.twitter.com/eoGwXUIeAE
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) April 26, 2023
He added, “I took a hard look at it before I decided to run. And I feel good, I feel excited about the prospects. And I think we’re on the verge of really turning the corner in a way we haven’t in a long time.”
An NBC News poll released this week found 70% of Americans said they do not want Biden to run. Fifty-one percent of Democrats said the same.
Meanwhile, 60% of Americans said former President Donald Trump should not run again.