Staff Reports
President Joe Biden’s quiet admission during a closed-door fundraiser has set the political world abuzz, with many Republicans seeing it as a sign of weakness and a lack of enthusiasm among the Democratic base for the current president. Biden hinted that if former President Donald Trump had not launched a comeback bid, he may have passed the torch to the next generation of Democratic leadership, leading many to speculate about his wavering commitment to seeking reelection in 2024.
Biden’s tendency to speak candidly during private fundraisers has raised concerns among his own party, with some Democrats downplaying his comment, insisting that he is simply running again to stop Donald Trump. However, the President’s own polling numbers tell a different story. With a net negative 16 percentage points approval-disapproval rating and head-to-head polling showing Trump ahead, it’s clear that Biden’s presidency is on shaky ground.
Says the candidate with lower approval figures and losing to Trump in every poll of consequence.
It’s downright delusional. https://t.co/8AqTeoZ59r
— Dean Phillips (@deanbphillips) December 5, 2023
The President’s response to questions about whether he would still run if Trump drops out only added fuel to the fire. While Biden initially claimed he would still run regardless, many Republicans and even some Democrats believe that his insistence on running again, despite his poor polling numbers, is downright delusional. Pollster David Paleologos argued that Biden’s message about preventing another Trump presidency doesn’t seem to be resonating with voters, and there is a genuine lack of interest in laying out a vision for progressive policies to improve the country.
While some Democrats try to defend Biden’s remarks, the reality is that his comments have exposed divisions within the Democratic Party about his viability as a candidate in 2024. Even the White House’s claim that Biden’s decision to run is final does little to quell the doubts raised by his own admission. Costas Panagopoulos, a political science professor, concurred with the assessment that Biden may never have run in the first place if it weren’t for Trump, and that he may step aside if he believes he is not the best hope to keep Trump out of office.
In the end, President Biden’s comments have only added more uncertainty to an already turbulent political landscape. With his own party expressing doubts and Republicans seizing on the opportunity to question his reelection bid, it’s clear that Biden’s admission has inadvertently cast doubt on his own ability to secure another term in the White House. As the 2024 election approaches, it remains to be seen whether Biden’s offhand remark will have lasting implications for the future of his presidency.
