'I'm staying in the race': Biden launches post-debate comeback with Wisconsin rally, ABC interview

President Joe Biden on Friday began a public comeback effort in the wake of a widely panned debate performance last week that has prompted renewed scrutiny of his age and fitness for office.

He first appeared at a rally in Madison, Wisc., in which he vowed to remain in the race. Later in the evening, ABC News will release an interview of the president from with George Stephanopoulos.

At the Wisconsin event, Biden declared "[l]et me say this clear as I can. I’m staying in the race. I'm not letting one 90-minute debate wipe out three and a half years of work."

Biden opened the event with a knock at former President Donald Trump's own penchant for awkward remarks, highlighting that he had once claimed that "George Washington's army won the revolution by taking control of the airports from the British." Trump made the remarks in 2019.

He then proceeded to make the Sign of the Cross, before remarking "[t]hey talk about me misspeaking... It’s true, he is a stable genius."

The incumbent president has faced calls to step aside in favor of another Democratic nominee after he stumbled over his responses during the debate and often appeared lost while on stage.

The campaign and White House has insisted that he will not bow out of the race and the rally and interview on Friday could present him with opportunities to reassure a skeptical public and media about his ability to handle the job.

Trump, for his part, has suggested that Biden ought to face him in a rematch in order to assuage concerns about his age and "competence."

"I have the answer to the Crooked Joe Biden Incompetence Puzzle — Let’s do another Debate, but this time, no holds barred - An all on discussion, with just the two of us on stage, talking about the future of our Country," he posted Thursday.  "The ratings were massive for the First Debate, record setting, in fact, but this one, because of the format, would blow everything away!"

"Let Joe explain why he wants Open Borders, with millions of people, and many violent criminals from parts unknown, pouring into our once great Nation, or why he wants Men Playing in Women’s Sports, or demand ALL ELECTRIC VEHICLES within five years, or why he allowed INFLATION TO RUN RAMPANT, destroying the people of our Country, and so much more," Trump continued. "It would also, under great pressure, prove his 'competence,' or lack thereof. Likewise it would be yet another test for me. What a great evening it would be, just the two of us, one on one, in a good, old fashioned Debate, the way they used to be. ANYTIME, ANYWHERE, ANYPLACE!!!"