(My favorite part of the Post’s story is that after making sure after making sure that Biden is indeed running, they drop this quote: “A Democrat involved in campaigns said they can’t think of someone they spoke to in the last month who considers the possibility of Biden running again as real.”)
On Monday, White House press secretary Jen Psaki spoke twice about Biden’s plan to run telling reporters on Monday, “Yes, that was his intention.”
Add that in and you’ll have plenty of anxiety and confusion – all for an election nearly three years away.
And, at the root, these stories raise two questions.
One thing is clear: Will Biden, who will be nearly 82 years old on Election Day 2024, run for re-election?
And what’s less obvious: Is the 2024 Biden candidate the best for the Democrats’ chances of holding the White House?
The first question is completely unknowable. I think Biden hasn’t even considered making a decision on that yet.
The second question is more interesting to me – because it speaks to the position of the Democrats and what they need.
On the one hand, Biden will function in 2024 as an incumbent – almost always a good thing – and a known commodity to the public. That, plus Harris’s difficulty adapting to the role of Vice President, suggests Biden may be the best pick of the bunch.
On the other hand, Biden’s approval rating is stuck at the low 40s. He struggled to bridge the gap between the liberal and moderate wings in the party. And again, he will be in the early 80s when his first term ends.
It’s clear from the Post’s story – as well as all the buzz surrounding Harris – that Democrats are divided over whether Biden will run for re-election and whether that’s a good thing for the party.
Point: While Democrats have some time to figure it all out, holding this debate in public isn’t a great look.
