'Red wave didn’t happen': President Biden hails midterm poll results, calls it ‘good day for democracy’
Biden said that the results showed that American democracy is intact
US President Joe Biden welcomed the outcome of the midterm elections, calling it "a good day for democracy" and pointed out how Democrats denied Republicans the sweeping victory they expected.
According to Reuters projections, Democrats now have 192 out of 218 seats needed to control the House of Representatives, while Republicans have 210 seats in their dock.
While in Senate, Democrats are eagerly waiting for the outcome of the tight races in Arizona and Nevada, which they need to win to maintain control of the upper House.
According to New York Times, Democrats have won 48 seats, while Republicans have secured 49 seats.
Addressing a press conference at the White House on Wednesday, Biden said that the results showed that American democracy is intact and that no amount of threat can damage that.
“We had an election yesterday…and it was a good day, I think, for democracy,” Biden said.
“Our democracy has been tested in recent years, but with their votes, the American people have spoken and proven once again that democracy is who we are,” he further said, adding that “while the press and the pundits are predicting a giant red wave, it didn’t happen.”
Watch |US Midterm Elections: A mixed bag; unexpected blue in some states
However, Biden did acknowledge that the results were not a positive sign for the Democrats. He said that voters “were also clear that they are still frustrated. I get it. I understand it’s been a really tough few years in this country for so many people.”
“While any seat lost is painful … Democrats had a strong night. And we lost fewer seats in the House of Representatives than any Democratic president’s first midterm election in the last 40 years. We had the best midterm for governors since 1986,” Biden said.
‘Intend to run for president again’
Biden, who turns 80 later this month, expressed his intention to run for the presidential elections in 2024 again.
“Our intention is to run again. That’s been our intention, regardless of what the outcome of this election was,” he told reporters. Still, Biden added, he’s “a great respecter of fate,” calling another run “a family decision.
“I think everybody wants me to run, but we’re gonna have discussions about it,” he said.
Plans to meet Xi Jinping
Biden said that he plans have a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping to discuss growing tensions between Washington and Beijing over Taiwan, trade policies and Beijing's relationship with Russia.
The White House has said it is working with Chinese officials to arrange a meeting between Biden and Xi on the sidelines of next week's Group of 20 Summit in Bali, Indonesia.
“What I want to do with him when we talk is lay out what each of our red lines are and understand what he believes to be in the critical national interests of China, what I know to be the critical interests of the United States," Biden said told reporters. “And determine whether or not they conflict with one another.”
(With inputs from agencies)
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