President Joe Biden responds to criticism of his debate performance during Raleigh campaign stop
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- President Joe Biden used his first campaign stop after his widely panned debate performance to try and reset the narrative.
"I know I'm not a young man -- state the obvious," Biden said as applause and support erupted from the crowd. "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 as well as I used to, but I know what I do know. I know how to tell the truth."
Biden forcefully tried on Friday to quell Democratic anxieties over his unsteady showing in his debate with former President Donald Trump, as elected members of his party closed ranks around him in an effort to shut down talk of replacing him atop the ticket.
Biden's halting delivery and meandering comments, particularly early in the debate, fueled concerns from even members of his own party that at age 81 he's not up for the task of leading the country for another four years.
A senior campaign aide told ABC News that the president is "absolutely" not considering dropping out of the race after stumbling with answers. They said the president is committed to a second debate.
"Folks, 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 I can do this job. Because quite frankly the stakes are too high," Biden said.
WATCH: Who won the debate and does it even matter?
Even before the debate, Biden's age had been a liability with voters, and Thursday night's faceoff appeared to reinforce the public's deep-seated concerns before perhaps the largest audience he will garner before ballots are cast.
A poll from The New York Times and Siena College from June 20 to 25 found 45% of registered voters said that Biden's age "is such a problem that he is not capable of handling the job of president," compared to just 16% who said the same for Trump.
Speaking for nearly 20 minutes at the Jim Graham Building at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds, Biden repeatedly appeared far more animated than his showing the night before, and he excoriated Trump for his "lies" and campaign aimed at "revenge and retribution."
WATCH: Full speech Biden gave in Raleigh on Friday
Biden spent much of the rally pointing out what he called Trump's false claims during the debate about the economy, immigration and crime.
"I spent 90 minutes on stage debating a guy with the morals of an alley cat," Biden said repeating a zinger from the debate. "I think he set a new record for the number of lies told at a debate."
"It was required, I really think so, that he come out and show that he is the Joe Biden of all people. That he's the president of all people and that last night, having so much information with time limits, it can be kind of tight and pressing. But this is the Joe that we know and the Joe that's running our country. That's my president," added Raleigh Mayor Pro Tem Corey Branch, who attended Friday's rally.
The crowd constantly shouted "Four more years," during the event.
Biden dug in further bringing up Trump's conviction in a New York criminal court and pending criminal and civil trials.
"Donald Trump isn't just a convicted felon. Donald Trump is a one-man crime wave," Biden said.
Biden's remarks touched on several topics, ranging from healthcare access to childcare to taxes, as he worked to establish a contrast between himself and Trump.
"Unlike the other guy we're going to stand up to dictators like Putin because America bows to no one," said Biden.
He also addressed Trump's response to a question from debate moderator Dana Bash, when asked about whether he'd accept the election results.
"If it's a fair and legal and good election, absolutely. I would have much rather accepted these but the fraud and everything else was ridiculous. And if you want, we'll have a news conference on it in a week. We'll have another one of these in a week. But I will absolutely, there's nothing I'd rather do. It would be much easier for me to do that than running again," said Trump, who went on to criticize Biden's performance in office while touting his polling numbers.
"We learned that Donald Trump will not respect this year's election outcome. He's still not accepting the last time out," Biden said.
Jill Biden, who wore a dress with the word "vote" written all over it, also defended his performance.
"What you saw last night on the debate stage was Joe Biden, a president with integrity and character who told the truth," she said. "And Donald Trump told lie after lie after lie."
Biden told reporters immediately after the debate that he had a sore throat and didn't have concerns about his performance.
"The choice in this election is simple," Biden said. "Donald Trump will destroy our democracy. I will defend it."
Democratic lawmakers on Friday acknowledged Biden's poor showing, but tried to stop talk of replacing him as their standard-bearer, and instead tried to shift the focus onto Trump's attacks and falsehoods that they hoped would remind voters of the daily turbulence of his presidency.
"Well, the president didn't have a good night, but neither did Donald Trump with lie after lie and his dark vision for America," North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper told The Associated Press on Friday, hours before he introduced the president in Raleigh. "We cannot send Donald Trump back to the White House. He's an existential threat to our nation."
Biden's arrival in North Carolina
Biden arrived in Raleigh just before 2 a.m. Friday after his debate with former President Donald Trump. The president spent some time talking with the crowd there to greet him at the airport.
This included the Triangle Pride Band. Band Director Alex Alberti told ABC11 it was a huge honor to have a one-on-one with the president.
"It's really validating to feel like you are seen and heard in today's climate," he said. "So it was really appreciated that not only as musicians but as individuals he took the time to talk to all of us."
Before Biden's speech, entertainers Fat Joe and E-40 rallied up the crowd at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds.
WATCH | President Biden lands at Raleigh-Durham International Airport
North Carolina's political importance
North Carolina is a high priority for both presidential candidates, with both candidates and their campaigns already making multiple visits across the state.
Rural voters in particular are expected to play an important role in both campaigns, but the candidates will have to overcome voter indifference, fatigue and even disgust. Both Democrats and Republicans hope face-to-face contact will help them make their case.
Trump carried North Carolina in both 2016 and 2020, though Biden cut into his margin of victory in the most recent election. North Carolina was Trump's closest victory in the cycle, and is viewed as the most likely pick-up opportunity for Biden.
"It's clear that President Biden wakes up every morning thinking about the American people, thinking about how he can deliver for them, thinking about how he can help them achieve the American dream. When Donald Trump wakes up thinking about himself, thinking about revenge, not thinking about the American people," said Sen. Natalie Murdock, a Democrat who represents Durham and Chatham counties and is serving as the Biden Campaign Political and Coalitions Director.
"This is a unique election because you've got two people who've been president. So we're not talking about hopes and aspirations, we're talking about two records. When you put the two records side by side, I hope President Trump will ask the American people tonight 'were you better off in February 2020 or are you better off today?' Because the answer is resoundingly, we were much better off," Congressman Richard Hudson said.
He is a Republican representing the state's 9th District and serves as Chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee.
