Biden buys time: 5 takeaways from the NATO press conference

• Closing out the three-day NATO summit, Biden displayed firm command of foreign policy details — framing the threat of a second Trump presidency as a "national security issue."
• But Biden, 81, also rambled and was incoherent at times, reinforcing Democrats' concerns that flared after his terrible debate two weeks ago: that he's too flawed of a messenger to turn around his ailing campaign.

5 takeaways

1. Polling denial.

• Biden — whose campaign already has spent more than $170 million this cycle — argued that "all the polling data right now is premature because the campaign hasn't really started."
• The president said he would consider withdrawing from the race only if his advisers told him there was "no way" he could win — before whispering with a wry smile: "No one's saying that. No poll says that."
• Amid reports that his campaign has begun poll-testing Vice President Kamala Harris against Trump, Biden said he wouldn't reconsider his decision to stay in the race even if her numbers were stronger than his.

2. "Bridge candidate" no more.

• Asked what has changed since he referred to himself as a "bridge" to a new generation of leaders in 2020, Biden cited "the gravity of the situation" he inherited in terms of the economy, foreign policy and "domestic division."
• He vigorously defended his economic record as historic and insisted he's staying in the race not for his "legacy," but to "finish the job I've started."
• "I believe I'm the best qualified to govern, and I think I'm the best qualified to win," Biden said. "There are other people who could beat Trump too. But it's awfully hard to start from scratch."

3. Gaffes fuel groans.

• Inside the room, Biden drew audible sighs — and stony faces from some of his top officials — when he referred to Harris as "Vice President Trump" in his first unscripted answer.
• Hours earlier, Biden had set off a similar reaction among NATO leaders when he introduced Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as "President Putin" — before quickly correcting the awkward flub.
• White House and campaign officials chided the press for focusing on the gaffes, but scrutiny of Biden's every word has become inevitable in the wake of his dismal debate performance last month.

4. "Pacing" and blame.

• Biden disputed reports that he privately has acknowledged needing to go to bed earlier, reframing it as a matter of "pacing" himself each day.

• He also appeared to blame his staff for his packed schedule — saying "they add things" — and acknowledging that "it's important to allay [Democratic] fears by letting them see me out there."
• Biden will head to Michigan on Friday, before traveling to Texas and Las Vegas next week and conducting several national interviews to counter-program the Republican National Convention.

5. Floodgates crack open.

• Moments after the press conference ended, Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.) — the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee — issued a statement calling on Biden to withdraw.
• Two other House Democrats brought the count to 17, with more expected to join in the coming days now that the NATO summit has concluded.
• Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.) called Biden's performance "fine" but warned on CNN: "We can't have a situation where every day we're holding our breath, whether it's a press conference, debate or a rally."

What to watch: Biden's team believes he delivered the performance he needed, with the NATO summit providing the perfect setting for him to flex his decades of foreign policy experience.

• The campaign hopes that pressure will ease with the RNC kicking off in Milwaukee on Monday, especially with far-right speakers such as Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) poised to seize the media limelight.
• But as long the polling remains dire for Democrats up and down the ballot — and with Republicans eager to highlight Biden's woes at their convention — don't expect the drumbeat to stop anytime soon.