Biden pledges to ‘unite America again’ in second term
Callum Jones
“We must unite America again,” the president said. “That’s my goal. That’s what we’re going to do.”
And with that, Biden concluded his remarks as the congregation chanted: “Four more years!”
Key events
Joanna Walters
Republican US Senator Lindsey Graham believes both Joe Biden and Donald Trump should take a cognitive test.
The South Carolina senator told CBS on Sunday that anyone standing for president and anyone in the line of succession should be subjected to a cognitive exam.
After Biden’s flop in the first presidential debate of the 2024 election, against Trump late last month, Graham said earlier today: “This is a wake-up call for the country. We need to make sure that the people who are going to be in the line of succession are capable of being commanders in chief under dire circumstances.”
He added: “I’m offended by the idea that he shouldn’t take a competency test, given all the evidence in front of us,” Graham said, adding that he thinks Biden is in denial and that’s dangerous.
Graham said: “What I’d like to see is President Biden take a cognitive test.” Asked if Trump should, too, Graham said: “Yes, yes, I think both.”
French voters appear to have blunted far right’s hopes of election triumph
Meanwhile, there’s some big news breaking in France, where the hopes of the far right and their leader Marine Le Pen appear to have been dashed by resurgent support for leftwing parties in a snap election.
We have a live blog covering the results as they come in, and you can follow it here:
Pennsylvania senator Fetterman – no stranger to rough debates – defends Biden
During his unscheduled stop at a Philadelphia campaign office, Joe Biden heard some words of encouragement from Democratic senator John Fetterman, who won office two years ago despite his own struggles in a debate against his Republican opponent.
The senator’s performance in the debate against Mehmet Oz was hampered by the auditory processing disorder that afflicted him after suffering a stroke. Fetterman nonetheless defeated Oz in the 2022 midterm elections, and, as he appeared alongside the president today, compared his comeback to Biden’s current troubles following his tired performance at his first debate against Donald Trump.
“I know what it’s like to have a rough debate and I’m standing here as your senator,” Fetterman said.
“There is only one guy that has ever beaten Trump and he is going to do it twice and put him down for good.”
Here’s a look back on Fetterman’s own struggles in his Senate campaign:
Joe Biden has made an unscheduled stop at the Roxborough Democratic Coordinated campaign office in Philadelphia.
He is joined there by Pennsylvania’s Democratic senator John Fetterman, and the city’s mayor Cherelle Parker.
Joanna Walters
Here are some more images from inside the event at the church in north-western Philadelphia a little earlier.
Addressing the congregation.
Mingling:
More:
Joanna Walters
Here are some images related to Joe Biden’s appearance in Philadelphia on Sunday, to speak at a church.
A handful of people outside held signs urging the president to drop out of his re-election campaign.
And this:
Biden meets voters.
Callum Jones
Joe Biden’s address at Mount Airy church of God In Christ in north-west Philadelphia went down well with the congregation.
Mike Johnson, 69, described the president’s remarks as “outstanding” and predicted he would be re-elected in November. “This country needs him,” he told the Guardian after Sunday’s service. “Democracy needs him.”
Paul Johansen, a teacher from Massachusetts, 58, praised a “rousing speech” that touched both on politics and religions.
“It was lovely to see a president who’s clearly a man of faith in a house of God,” he said. Biden “reads the Bible”, he added, and is “not at all interested in selling Bibles”.
Biden’s age is nevertheless “a difficult issue”, Johansen acknowledged. “He has a lifetime of service that I respect and appreciate. That is not undone by a bad night.
“Having said that, I appreciate the fact that the federal government is a big entity and he’ll have a lot of people helping him.”
Phyllis White, 79, said: “He’s still thinking about the people, not the position … His ability is what it has been for the last four years. He will carry on in God’s name – not someone who’s out for the rich people.”
The day so far
Joe Biden is campaigning in must-win Pennsylvania as he seeks to regain the trust of both voters and Democratic officials following his uneven performance in his first debate against Donald Trump late last month. He is headed to the state capital Harrisburg in the afternoon after appearing at a predominantly Black Philadelphia church, where he joked about his age and promised to “unite America again”. Meanwhile, several prominent Democratic lawmakers appeared on the Sunday talk shows and were asked if they believed the president should step aside. Senator Bernie Sanders, an independent who caucuses with the Democrats, signaled he still supported Biden, but called for him to double down on progressive policies, while congressman Adam Schiff said Biden needs to either “win overwhelmingly” or “pass the torch” to someone who can. The most prophetic comments came from senator Chris Murphy, who said Biden faced a “critical week” to quell voters’ concerns.
Here’s what else has happened today:
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Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic House minority leader, is convening high-ranking lawmakers from the party to discuss Biden’s campaign.
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Murphy also said that Biden’s recent interview on ABC News did not quell doubts about his ability to continue his presidential campaign.
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Biden’s next stop today will take him to a state capital where Democrats have shown strength in recent elections.
At his speech before a predominantly African American church in Philadelphia today, Joe Biden gave subtle signs that he is looking for ways to recover his public standing after he struggled in his first debate against Donald Trump.
In an address that otherwise focused on his administration’s priorities and his promises to Black voters, the president cracked a joke about his age and, at the conclusion of his remarks, jogged over to shake hands with church officials.
See the highlights here:
Joe Biden is scheduled to campaign later today in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania’s capital city.
His campaign has devoted much focus to turning out voters in Philadelphia and its suburbs, a region expected to be crucial to determining if the state’s electoral votes go to Biden in the November election.
Harrisburg is a smaller city situated in the state’s more conservative center, and home to the state legislature where Democrats have seen a resurgence in strength in recent elections. They currently control the state house by two seats, but are in the minority in the senate.
Joe Biden’s speech at Philadelphia’s Mt Airy Church of God in Christ wrapped up after about 10 minutes of the president highlighting his administration’s accomplishments, particularly as they applied to Black Americans.
The president did not mention the debate, or the prospect of him dropping out, but did make light of his advanced age.
“I know I only look like I’m 40 years old, but I’ve been around longer,” Biden said. “You know, I’ve been doing this a long time, and I, honest to God, have never more optimistic about America’s future if we stick together.”
Biden pledges to ‘unite America again’ in second term
Callum Jones
“We must unite America again,” the president said. “That’s my goal. That’s what we’re going to do.”
And with that, Biden concluded his remarks as the congregation chanted: “Four more years!”
Callum Jones
Biden has started to address the congregation in Philadelphia. “It’s good to be home,” he began.
“I’ve always felt the power of my faith, in good times and tough times,” the president said.
He went on to recite some of the achievements and goals of his administration, from healthcare and student debt relief to initiatives to address crime and inequality. “Black history is American history,” the president said.
“I’ve been doing this a long time,” Biden added. “And I’ve honest to God never felt more optimistic about America’s future.”
Callum Jones
“Never count Joseph out,” Felton concluded, suggesting people are “jealous” of the president.
“You have a dream. I have a dream. The president has a dream,” he continued. “It’s a tough race. It’s a tough battle. But we’re getting out of the pit.”
“President Biden is coming back,” said Fulton. “He’s comeback kid. He’s a fighter. He’s a champion. He’s a winner.”
Callum Jones
“I know the media says president Biden is visiting a black church,” said Felton.
“There’s nothing on our program that says a black church.”
Callum Jones
“Our president is a man of vision and integrity,” continued Felton.
During the TV debate with Trump last month, Biden “was accused of never firing anybody,” said Felton. “He fired the one who accused him of never firing anybody.”
The bishop attacked Donald Trump, Biden’s predecessor and opponent, for lying. “We saw it happen,” he said of January 6.