I'm in this to complete the job'

Biden forcefully declares he’s staying in presidential race despite widespread calls to bow out

- ZEKE MILLER, SEUNG MIN KIM, LISA MASCARO AND COLLEEN LONG

U.S. President Joe Biden pushed back at suggestions that he was slowing down or showing noticeable signs of decline during his highly anticipated news conference Thursday.

President Joe Biden used his closely watched news conference Thursday to deliver a forceful defence of his foreign and domestic policies and batted away questions about his ability to serve another four years, declaring: “I’m not in this for my legacy. I’m in this to complete the job.”

Early on, he made one notable flub when he bobbled a reference to Vice-President Kamala Harris. But for an hour, he largely held his own under intense questioning, eschewing any suggestion that he was in decline, no longer capable of leading the nation and too old to serve another term.

Biden pushed back at every suggestion that was slowing down or showing noticeable signs of decline, or that he was not in command of the job.