I'm not going anywhere,' Biden says as campaign struggles

US leader tries to shift focus from his mental sharpness to impact of another Trump term

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Seeking to revive his struggling re-election campaign, US President Joe Biden held a rare rally in Detroit, telling a cheering crowd he is not going to leave the race and warning that Republican Donald Trump poses a serious threat.

Mr Biden, 81, is trying to shift the conversation from his mental sharpness and a growing number of Democratic defections to the impact of another Trump presidency, as he tries to reboot his campaign after a shaky debate performance on June 27.

“I am running, and we’re going to win,” he said to a crowd that carried “Motown is Joetown” signs and chanted “Don’t you quit” before he spoke.

“I’m the nominee,” he said. “I’m not going anywhere.”

Pointing to the press area in the gym, Mr Biden said: “They’ve been hammering me,” to which the crowd booed.

“Guess what, Donald Trump has gotten a free pass,” he added.

“Hopefully with age comes a little wisdom,” Mr Biden said, in a defiant and sometimes gleeful performance.

“Here’s what I know – I know how to tell the truth, I know right from wrong... and I know Americans want a president, not a dictator.”

Mr Biden also laid out what he intended to do with his first 100 days of a second term, including codifying abortion rights, signing the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, ending medical debt, raising the minimum wage and banning assault weapons.

These sweeping changes would be difficult or impossible without Democratic majorities in both houses of Congress.

While union and religious leaders attended, Michigan’s governor Gretchen Whitmer and its Democratic senators, Ms Debbie Stabenow and Mr Gary Peters, did not.

Earlier on July 12, Mr Biden made a surprise stop at a garage-themed restaurant in a western suburb of Detroit, where he told diners he planned to “finish the job” and said, “I promise you... I’m okay.”