jordan pulse -

US President Joe Biden stressed, Friday, that Democrats will win the midterm elections next week, but warned that the next two years will be difficult if opinion polls that point so far to a possible victory for Republicans are correct.



During his campaign that led him to a number of states in the final days before Tuesday's vote, the 79-year-old Democratic president expressed optimism that his party could win.



"I never think we're in trouble," he told a crowd in Chicago. "I think we're going to win. Really."



However, Biden painted a bleak picture if the Republicans were victorious, warning that "if we lose Congress and the Senate, we will have two horrific years ahead."



"The good news is that I will have a veto" that would allow the president to block any future Republican legislation, he added.



Biden stressed that "democracy is really at stake."



Earlier Friday, the Democratic president defended his economic achievements, in an effort to avoid a possible defeat for the Democrats.



"We've made great progress over the past 20 months in strengthening the economy (...) and I think we just have to keep it going," Biden said during a tour of San Diego, California.



The United States is currently experiencing the worst inflation in 40 years, and high prices have hampered the plans of Democrats who are trying to preserve their majority.



Biden promised to "reduce" inflation, stressing in particular the huge investments made by his administration, particularly in semiconductors and climate.



Biden insisted that the US maintains "strengths": in the labor market, for example, 261,000 jobs were created in October despite rising interest rates raising fears of a recession.



For his part, former Republican President Donald, who still enjoys a strong grip on the Republican Party, has moved on to the offensive.



During a meeting in Iowa, Trump kept little doubt about his political plans, telling his supporters, "I'm probably running" for the election.



"Get ready, that's all I can say. We're going to get the United States back, and most importantly, in 2024 we're going to get our wonderful White House back," he added.



AFP