WHO IS IN CHARGE?
Joe Biden hovers awkwardly behind Jill and wipes his eyes at North Carolina rally after refusing to step aside
The calls for Biden to end his reelection campaign grew after Thursday's debate
FIRST Lady Jill Biden took full control of the start of President Joe Biden's first campaign stop less than 24 hours after his concerning performance during Thursday's presidential debate.
President was hovered awkwardly behind his wife at the podium on Friday as she commanded the microphone and introduced guests during the commencement of his rally in Raleigh, .
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"What you saw last night on the debate stage was Joe Biden, a president with integrity and character who told the truth," the said at the post-debate rally.
"And Donald Trump told lie after lie after lie."
As President Biden took to the podium, he did so with an energy that was absent from the debate, even at one point acknowledging his poor performance.
In his opening remarks, he continued his attack against his predecessor, calling a treat to the nation.
"I don't know what you did last night, but I spent 90 minutes on stage debating a guy who has the morals of an alley cat," Biden told supporters.
"Donald Trump isn't just a convicted felon, Donald Trump is a one-man crime wave," he added as the crowd chanted, "Lock him up!"
"He's a threat to our freedom. He's a threat to our democracy," the president added.
"Is literally a threat to everything America stands for. The choice in this election is simple: Donald Trump will destroy democracy. I will defend it."
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I know I'm not a young man. To state the obvious.
Joe Biden.
Thursday's presidential debate sent shockwaves of concerns throughout the as Biden's age and cognitive inabilities were glaring to the public.
Biden, 81, briefly addressed the uneasiness of his constituents as calls for him to end his reelection bid grew after Thursday's primetime performance.
'Is he okay?' viewers wonder as President Joe Biden takes the stage with a 'hoarse' voice to begin debate with Trump
"I know I'm not a young man. To state the obvious," the president admitted.
"No, I know... folks. I don't walk as easy as I used to. I don't speak as smoothly as I used to.
"I don't debate like I used to. But I know what I do know, I know to tell the truth.
"I know right from wrong. And I know how to do this job. When you get knocked down, you get back up."
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Biden froze and repeatedly mumbled his words during the first presidential debate.
However, the president again gave no indication that he plans to step aside.
"I give you my word as a Biden. I wouldn't be running again if I didn't believe with all my heart and soul that I could do this job," Biden said.
"Because frankly, the stakes are too high."
'WE'RE GOING TO WIN THIS ELECTION'
Biden is poised to continue his reelection efforts and is committed to a second debate scheduled for September 10, according to .
The president's campaign is expected to hold an all-staff meeting on Friday afternoon, reported.
Biden's frail appearance and his low tone of voice left many supporters and Democrats worried about the prospect of a second term.
But DNC leaders are coming out of the woodworks to express confidence for Biden and attack wavering national trust.
Hours after Biden's rally, former President Barack Obama said "bad debate nights happen" and defended his vice president.
"This election is still a choice between someone who has fought for ordinary folks his entire life and someone who only cares about himself," Obama wrote on X.
He said Biden "knows right from wrong" and urged American's to not vote for "someone who lies through his teeth for his own benefit."
PLAN B?
Biden's performance has sparked buzz of a candidate replacement - a move which has never been done so last minute.
California Governor is one of the several potential names being coined that could replace President Biden on the ballot for the Democrats.
Newsom's presence in the CNN spin room during the event left many attendees wondering why he was there.
However, the California governor doubled down on his support for the incumbent, affirming Biden's "our guy."
"Biden is confident. He's got a record, and he's got a vision for the future," Newsom, 56, told reporters after the debate.
"I would never turn my back on President Biden. I don't know a Democrat in my party that would do so.
"And especially after tonight, we have his back.
"We run, not the 90-yard dash. We are all in. We're going to double down in the next few months. We're going to win this election."
It's hard to believe but crooked Joe Biden polls better than these people.
Donald Trump
Donald Trump took a swipe at Newsom during a rally in Chesapeake, , calling him one of the worst governors.
"Many people are saying that after last night's performance that Joe Biden is leaving the race," Trump told supporters.
"But I don't believe that because he does better in polls than any of the Democrats they're talking about.
"These polls come out with some of the names like Gavin Newsom - he can't run California, he's one of the worst governors.
"He's a bad governor. He can't run California... You can't do better than California, he's doing a terrible job.
"He's got lousy poll numbers."
Trump then dug into and , "Then, of course, Kamala is somebody who will be on the scope.
"It might've been Joe Biden's single best decision, putting her as vice president because nobody wants that.
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"But they don't poll as well as this guy [Biden]. They polled everybody. Michelle Obama. She polls very badly, she polls terribly.
"It's hard to believe but crooked Joe Biden polls better than these people."
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