Biden jokes about age while stumping in Oakland County, says he’s optimistic for America’s future

President Joe Biden (left) is introduced by U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Dearborn) to a crowd at Garage Grill and Fuel Bar in Northville, Michigan before speaking to a crowd in Detroit on July 12, 2024 | Anna Liz Nichols

Contesting with daily proclamations from Democratic Party members that he should drop from the presidential race amid concerns for his age and health, President Joe Biden came to Michigan Friday to inspire confidence in his campaign.

Ahead of speaking to a larger crowd at Renaissance High School in Detroit, Biden visited Garage Grill & Fuel Bar in Northville, flanked by Oakland and Wayne County Democrats in the Legislature, as well as U.S. Reps. Debbie Dingell (D-Ann Arbor) and Haley Stevens (D-Birmingham).

Biden made his way through the crowd as he spoke, thanking the kids who had to dress up to meet the president and expounding on the consequences of a possible second presidential term from Donald Trump.

“I’ve been around 270 years,” Biden, 81, said to the laughter of the restaurant. “For the longest time, I was too young, because that was the second-youngest man ever elected to the United States Senate. … Now I’m too old. But I know hopefully with a little bit of age comes a little wisdom. … I do think ethics matter. I do think decency matters. … We are an optimistic, decent, honorable country and I give my word… I have never been more optimistic about America’s possibilities.”

President Joe Biden speaks to members of a crowd at Garage Grill and Fuel Bar in Northville, Michigan before speaking to a crowd in Detroit on July 12, 2024 | Anna Liz Nichols

President Joe Biden walks off Air Force One at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport on July 12, 2024 | Anna Liz Nichols

U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Birmingham) to a crowd at Garage Grill and Fuel Bar in Northville, Michigan at a campaign stop for President Joe Biden on July 12, 2024 | Anna Liz Nichols

President Joe Biden arrives at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport on July 12, 2024 | Anna Liz Nichols

President Joe Biden speaks to members of a crowd at Garage Grill and Fuel Bar in Northville, Michigan before speaking to a crowd in Detroit on July 12, 2024 | Anna Liz Nichols

President Joe Biden embraces Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport on July 12, 2024 | Anna Liz Nichols

President Joe Biden (left) speaks to members of a crowd at Garage Grill and Fuel Bar in Northville, Michigan before speaking to a crowd in Detroit on July 12, 2024 | Anna Liz Nichols

Mayor Mike Duggan (left) arrives at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport to welcome President Joe Biden to Michigan on July 12, 2024 | Anna Liz Nichols

President Joe Biden arrives on Air Force One at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport on July 12, 2024 | Anna Liz Nichols

President Joe Biden speaks to members of a crowd at Garage Grill and Fuel Bar in Northville, Michigan before speaking to a crowd in Detroit on July 12, 2024 | Anna Liz Nichols

President Joe Biden speaks to members of a crowd at Garage Grill and Fuel Bar in Northville, Michigan before speaking to a crowd in Detroit on July 12, 2024 | Anna Liz Nichols

President Joe Biden walks off Air Force One at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport on July 12, 2024 | Anna Liz Nichols

President Joe Biden (left) is introduced by U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Dearborn) to a crowd at Garage Grill and Fuel Bar in Northville, Michigan before speaking to a crowd in Detroit on July 12, 2024 | Anna Liz Nichols

President Joe Biden speaks to members of a crowd at Garage Grill and Fuel Bar in Northville, Michigan before speaking to a crowd in Detroit on July 12, 2024 | Anna Liz Nichols

President Joe Biden speaks to members of a crowd at Garage Grill and Fuel Bar in Northville, Michigan before speaking to a crowd in Detroit on July 12, 2024 | Anna Liz Nichols

President Joe Biden walks off Air Force One at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport on July 12, 2024 | Anna Liz Nichols

Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson greets President Joe Biden at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport on July 12, 2024 | Anna Liz Nichols

President Joe Biden speaks to members of a crowd at Garage Grill and Fuel Bar in Northville, Michigan before speaking to a crowd in Detroit on July 12, 2024 | Anna Liz Nichols

Whereas America was founded on the ideas of equality and possibility, Trump has walked away from that idea, failing to improve infrastructure and health care for the middle class during his tenure, Biden said.

“When you give people a fighting chance, everybody does better,” Biden said.

Although Biden beat out Trump for Michigan’s support in the 2020 presidential election by about 150,000 votes, a growing list of Democrats, including some in Michigan, have called for Biden to step aside amid a strained performance at the last presidential debate, which fueled more concerns about his age and health.

But Biden told the crowd at the restaurant that he is still in the race and added some levity.

“We gotta finish the job and I promise you, I’m OK” Biden said. “I know I’m only 41 … but folks, this is an important moment.”

Dingell and Stevens are holding fast to their support behind Biden, despite uncertainty from other Democrats in the state that Biden will win.

Things can change, political strongholds can be dissolved and Democrats find a way to connect with people, Stevens told the media before Biden spoke at the restaurant in Northville, which had been a purple area. 

In 2018, Stevens and fellow U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Holly) broke decades-long Republican control in their districts encompassing Oakland County.

This election will be a fight, Stevens said ahead of Biden talking with the crowd in Northville, but she maintained that the president will be victorious.

“This is now a city that is blue, a township that is blue, that has been holding; it is part of our blue wall line,” Stevens said. “We’re delighted to show that the president is going to win in a tough year.”

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