President Biden urged his supporters to ‘stick together’ as he kicked off a day of campaigning in the battleground state of Pennsylvania, amid growing calls for him to step aside as the Democratic Party’s presumptive nominee.
Churchgoers at Mount Airy Church of God in Christ, a predominantly Black church in northwest Philadelphia, greeted Biden ahead of a prepared speech he delivered from the stage.
“I’ve been doing this a long time, and I honestly to God have never been more optimistic about America’s future — if we stick together,” Biden said.
“We have to bring back dignity and hope in America,” Biden said. “We must unite America again — that’s my goal.”
Pastor Louis Felton delivered remarks praising Biden ahead of the president's speech, saying that "we are together because we love our president."
Felton also compared Biden to the biblical figure Joseph, whose jealous brothers sold him into slavery before eventually returning to him for help. Felton suggested the Democrats who have called on Biden to bow out of the race are jealous.
“That’s what’s going on, Mr. President. People are jealous of you. Jealous of your stick-to-itiveness, jealous of your favor. Jealous of God’s hand upon your life,” Felton said, according to The Associated Press.
“Never count Joseph out,” Felton said. “You’ve lost a wife. You’ve lost children. But God has never left you alone.”
The campaign stops come as the president seeks to project strength in the face of Democratic lawmakers' concerns about his place at the top of the party's presidential ticket. Five House Democrats have so far called on him to step aside.
Biden then headed to Harrisburg, Pa., where he was slated to attend a rally with union members and local Democrats. Biden will return to Washington, D.C., on Sunday night ahead of the NATO summit this week, which the U.S. is hosting.
