'I'm the nominee': Biden calls out Democrats pushing for him to withdraw from election

A defiant President Joe Biden called out fellow Democrats pushing him to withdraw from the 2024 election, saying at a campaign rally Friday afternoon that he will remain in the race.

Biden, speaking to supporters from a middle school gymnasium in Madison, Wisconsin, said: "I'm the nominee of the Democratic Party," adding that "millions of Democrats just like you just voted for me in primaries all across America."

"You voted for me to be your nominee. No one else. The voters did that," Biden said. "And despite that, some folks don't seem to care who you voted for. Well, guess what? They're trying to push me out of the race.

"Well, let me say this as clearly as I can," he added. "I'm staying in the race. I'll beat Donald Trump."

Democratic Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers helped introduce Biden at the rally.

The 81-year-old Biden has faced a growing number of calls from Democrats for him to withdraw from the election following his disastrous debate performance last week against former President Donald Trump. Two Democratic members of Congress this week urged him to bow out, and on Friday, Democratic Gov. Maura Healey of Massachusetts called for Biden to reconsider his campaign.

"There's been a lot of speculation. What's Joe going to do?" Biden said in his remarks in Wisconsin. "Is he going to say in the race? Is he going to drop out? What's he going to do? Well, here's my answer. I am running and going to win again."

Later, before boarding Air Force One to return to Washington, Biden told reporters, "I'm completely ruling that out" when asked about withdrawing.

Biden, who struggled to finish sentences and complete thoughts during the debate, had one noticeable slip-up in his speech Friday.

"I will beat him again in 2020," Biden said at one point, giving the wrong year for the election before appearing to correct himself. "By the way, we're going to do it again in 2024."

The Washington Post reported Friday that U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner, D-Va., a Biden ally, is working on assembling a group of Democratic senators to ask Biden to withdraw from the race.

"He's the only one," Biden told reporters when asked about Warner's effort.

Reach Joey Garrison on X, formerly Twitter, @joeygarrison.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Biden calls out Democrats pushing for him to withdraw from election