Joe Biden gave his first television interview to ABC News after the broadcast debate and following calls from many Democrats, supporters and donors for him to drop out of the race.
“I felt very bad. I felt very bad,” Biden said when asked about what happened on the night of the debate.
Biden called it a bad night, saying, “Trump was yelling even when his microphone was off. It was distracting. It wasn’t the only problem, but he didn’t have much control,” he said in his assessment.
Asked if he’d rewatched the debate, Biden said, “No, I don’t think I’ve watched it.” He responded:
“I am the man who defeated Putin”
“I don’t believe the polls,” Biden said of his trailing position in the polls.
Biden maintained that no one was more qualified to be president than he was, saying, “I’m the person best qualified to defeat Trump.”
Biden gave no clear answer to a question about whether he sees himself as president for another four years, but noted that he would keep NATO together and said, “I’m the guy who defeated Putin.”
Asked about those who criticized him, Biden said he didn’t know “what they’re talking about.”
Biden reiterated that he has no plans to withdraw from the race and said only God could convince him to do so.
“I am inspected every day for my actions.”
Biden declined to say whether he would take mental health tests, saying, “I already get tested for my everyday behavior.”
Biden said he wasn’t just campaigning, saying, “I run the world. That may seem like an exaggeration, but it’s not. We are the center of the world.”
