Twelve days following a sluggish debate performance that might rank among the worst in contemporary American history, the president is facing great pressure from both domestic and international quarters to maintain his political position.
The NATO summit this week in Washington, DC, might be the president’s last chance to win at least a brief reprieve.
Mr. Biden has been railing against his detractors, asserting the will of Democratic primary voters, and calling on his rivals to come forward and attempt to oust him in the last several days.
He has made it clear time and time again that he is pushing forward with his campaign and that there is no more room for doubt or fretting.
Starting with the NATO summit will be that pushing forward.
Three days of meetings and public engagements, including a solo press conference on Thursday afternoon, will be hosted by Mr. Biden for alliance leaders.
Mr. Biden, who is knowledgeable in international issues, ought to feel at ease on this platform. However, it also increases the already high stakes for his presidency because a bad performance will have consequences both at home and abroad.
A gaffe may ignite a Democratic political stampede that would crush his chances of simply qualifying for the general election in November, much less winning it.
Additionally, it might exacerbate worries among European allies on the growing possibility of a Donald Trump presidency and the drastic geopolitical policies.
