バイデン氏「自分にはもっと睡眠時間必要」 米紙報道

【ワシントンＡＦＰ＝時事】米国が独立記念日を迎えた４日、ジョー・バイデン大統領（８１）は、引き続き大統領選のテレビ討論会での失態をめぐる対応に追われた。民主党内ではバイデン氏の撤退を求める声が高まっている。（写真はジョー・バイデン米大統領）
　バイデン氏は、先週行われたドナルド・トランプ前大統領との討論会以来、党内のパニックを抑え込むのに苦心してきたが、３日にはホワイトハウスで全米の民主党州知事らとの緊急会合に臨み、支持を取り付けることに成功した。
　だが、米紙ニューヨーク・タイムズは４日、この会合の出席者２人から得た情報として、バイデン氏が州知事らに対し、自分にはもっと睡眠時間が必要なので午後８時以降の公務を減らす計画だと伝えたと報じた。
　この報道を受け、バイデン氏に大統領選からの撤退を求める声はさらに強まる可能性がある。
　バイデン氏は４日、ホワイトハウスで軍関係者とその家族を招いて行われた独立記念日のバーベキューで「私はどこにも行かない」と強調。支持者から「戦い続けてほしい」と言われると、「分かっている。私はどこにも行かない」と答えた。
　だが、バイデン氏の撤退を求める声は、米紙のニューヨーク・タイムズとボストン・グローブに続き、英誌エコノミストからも、民主党のセス・モールトン下院議員（マサチューセッツ州選出）からも上がっており、５日のプライムタイムに予定されているＡＢＣニュースのインタビューや、来週首都ワシントンで開催される北大西洋条約機構（ＮＡＴＯ）首脳会議での記者会見など、今後の予定にもプレッシャーがかかっている。
　バイデン氏の撤退を求めた民主党議員はモールトン氏で３人目。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2024/07/05-18:25）

While Americans were celebrating the July 4 holiday with fireworks and feasts, President Joe Biden on Thursday continued to face explosive fallout from his debate against Donald Trump that has left many Democrats hungry for a replacement.
The 81-year-old has struggled since last week's debate to tamp down panic among his party, but he won the backing Wednesday of Democratic governors who gathered for an emergency meeting with him at the White House.
However, a new and potentially damaging wrinkle emerged on Independence Day, with The New York Times reporting Biden told the governors he needs more sleep and plans to curtail public events after 8:00 pm.
The revelation was according to two participants in the meeting, the Times said, and could further fuel rumblings within the party about finding a replacement candidate for November's election.
With polls showing Republican Trump extending a narrow lead after last week's debate, Biden finds himself under pressure as never before to demonstrate his capacity to lead.
I had a bad night, Biden acknowledged to Wisconsin's Civic Media in a pre-recorded radio interview that aired Thursday.
I screwed up. I made a mistake, he added. That's 90 minutes on stage. Look at what I've done in 3.5 years.
The White House has insisted Biden is absolutely not stepping down.
- 'Not going anywhere' -
Biden himself sought to appear determined he was staying in the race, telling his radio interviewer: When you get knocked down, you just get back up.
Later at an Independence Day barbecue at the White House, he told the crowd of military personnel and their families that he was not going anywhere.
Responding to a supporter who told him to keep up the fight, Biden said: You got me man. I'm not going anywhere.
A little later, Biden addressed the crowd again before the traditional fireworks display.
We got to do what our founders did -- show the world we're a nation of dignity, honor, and just devotion to one another, he said, in rare remarks without a teleprompter.
However more calls continued to come in on Thursday for Biden to step aside, heaping pressure on his upcoming engagements which include a prime time interview with ABC News on Friday and a press conference during the NATO summit next week in Washington.
British magazine The Economist became the latest major publication urging Biden to withdraw, joining The New York Times and Boston Globe editorial boards.
Meanwhile, Congressman Seth Moulton of Massachusetts became the third sitting Democratic lawmaker to call for the president to be replaced on the ticket.
Biden has done enormous service to our country, but now is the time for him to follow in one of our founding father, George Washington's footsteps, and step aside to let new leaders rise up and run against Donald Trump, Moulton told radio station WBUR.
- 'So pathetic' -
As the president struggles to overcome his disastrous debate performance, Kamala Harris, the nation's first female vice president, has suddenly been forced into the spotlight.
The 59-year-old former California prosecutor -- who introduced Biden on stage Thursday evening -- has been performing a delicate act since the debate.
She has offered unwavering support for Biden in public but is standing by as a leading contender to replace him if he steps aside.
Trump, who has remained largely -- and uncharacteristically -- quiet as Biden's crisis deepens, broke his silence Thursday in fierce fashion, unleashing attacks on Biden and Harris in a leaked video that he then posted on his own Truth Social account.
I kicked that old broken down pile of crap during the debate, Trump, sitting in a golf cart, says in the video.
He's quitting the race. Yep, I got him out of the race. And that means we have Kamala, Trump says. She's so bad, she's so pathetic.
He later challenged Biden to another debate, saying it would prove prove his 'competence,' or lack thereof.
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, Trump posted on his Truth Social platform.
He said it it would be an even a higher ratings bonanza than the first debate and that he was ready ANYTIME, ANYWHERE, ANYPLACE!!!