Despite Warren’s rise, Biden confident in his path

FLORENCE, S.C. — Joe Biden said Saturday he is undeterred by the ascendancy of Democratic rival Elizabeth Warren, noting that some of his supporters are treating the primary campaign as a general election

Biden contest between him and President Donald Trump.

“She doesn’t affect my strategy, period,” Biden said before a town hall in South Carolina. “And I’m not 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 acknowledged that, as his fundraising lags, outside groups are considering running ads to support him.

“There’s two things we know for certain: one, Vladimir Putin doesn’t want me to be president, according to Facebook taking down the Russian ads going after me. And two, surely Trump doesn’t want to face me,” Biden said.

“What I’m told is, there are people out there who want to take these ads on, take him on now, because it’s a general election, me versus Trump, in their minds right now.”

Last 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 Biden had previously opposed.

Biden’s standing in Iowa and New Hampshire has been eroded somewhat by the rise of Massachusetts Sen. Warren and others. Still, he finds himself in a strong position in South Carolina, a state that could provide an electoral firewall for him if he were to lose early.

“I think we’re going to do very well in both those states,” Biden said, adding that a victory in South Carolina could “catapult” him to wins across the South.

At 76, Biden is the secondoldest Democratic candidate. Asked whether he would pledge to only serve one term if elected, Biden said he wouldn’t but noted he isn’t necessarily committed to seeking a second term.