Biden tries to quell concerns after an unsteady debate showing as he and Trump head to swing states

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden strained to quell Democratic anxieties over his unsteady showing in his debate with former President Donald Trump, as each candidate on Friday sought to expand his appeal in states he lost four years ago.

Thursday night's faceoff appeared set to reinforce the public's deep-seated concerns about both men before perhaps the largest audience they will garner before ballots are cast.

Biden's halting delivery and meandering comments, particularly early in the debate, fueled concerns from even members of his own party that at age 81 he's not up for the task of leading the country for another four years. And Trump's attacks and policy falsehoods served as a reminder of the daily turbulence of his presidency.

Biden was greeted early Friday in Raleigh, North Carolina, by throngs of supporters invited by his campaign to watch Air Force One carry him from the debate in Atlanta, where he brushed aside Democratic concerns with his showing that he should consider stepping aside, saying, “No, it’s hard to debate a liar.”