AP Interview: Biden undeterred by rival Warren’s ascendancy

Joe Biden said Saturday he is undeterred by ascendancy of Democratic rival Elizabeth Warren, ting that some of his supporters are alrey treating primary campaign as a general election contest between him and President Donald Trump.

“She doesn’t affect my strategy, period,” former vice president said in an interview with Associated Press before a town hall meeting in South Carolina, home to South’s first primary next year. “And I’m t being facetious. I think she’s a fine person, a good candidate, but I didn’t get involved in deciding to run because of polling or a particular strategy.”

He also ackwledged that outside groups are considering running s to support him, a move that comes amid concerns within his campaign that his fundraising efforts have lagged.

“re’s two things we kw for certain: one, (Russian President) Vlimir Putin doesn’t want me to be president, according to Facebook taking down Russian s going after me. And two, surely Trump doesn’t want to face me,” Biden said. “What I’m told is, re are people out re who want to take se s on, take him on w, because it’s a general election, me versus Trump, in ir minds right w. But I’ve h conversations with m.”

Biden’s standing in early-voting states such as Iowa and New Hampshire has been eroded somewhat by rise of Massachusetts Sen. Warren and or challengers in 2020 primary. Still, he finds himself in a strong position in South Carolina, where his support among critical voting bloc of black voters could form bulwark for his candidacy.

Biden emphasizes his deep ties to state, including relationships with two late and long-serving senators, Republican Strom Thurmond and Democrat Fritz Hollings. Some in his campaign have suggested that state could provide an electoral firewall for him if he were to lose in Iowa and New Hampshire.

“I think we’re going to do very well in both those states,” Biden said, saying a victory in South Carolina could “catapult” him to wins across South, and that losses in or early states wouldn’t hurt him re. “This is a marathon. Even if I knew I was going to win every or state, Lord came down and told me that, I’d still be in South Carolina.”

To do that, Biden’s campaign would need ample resources. This past week, his campaign said it was rolling back opposition to an independent political action committee that would allow wealthy individuals and corporations to boost his candidacy. It was a move that Biden h previously opposed. Part of that tion, Biden said, comes from outside groups treating primary contest as essentially a general election contest between Biden and Trump, and seeking opportunity to raise money to help Biden counter combative tactics from Trump and groups that support him.

Biden trails his top primary rivals, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and Warren, in total fundraising and cash-on-hand. At 76, Biden is second oldest among Democratic candidates. oldest, Sanders, 78, h a heart attack earlier this year. Asked if matters among candidates, Biden said he understands any questions on behalf of voters but he reaffirmed that his own health is robust and his is t an impediment.

“Right w it’s a legitimate question to ask, just like it was legitimate to ask me when I was 29 years old running for Senate, did I have eugh judgment to be a senator,” Biden said. “Right w, my has brought with it a significant amount of experience in government and hopefully wisdom and some sound judgment.”

Asked wher he would pledge to only serve one term if elected, Biden said he wouldn’t make such a promise but ted he wasn’t necessarily committed to seeking a second term if elected in 2020. “I feel good and all I can say is, watch me, you’ll see,” Biden said. “It doesn’t mean I would run a second term. I’m t going to make that judgment at this moment.”