With the 2024 presidential campaign season approaching, the media is abuzz with speculation about potential challengers to President Joe Biden’s bid for re-election.
A recent article in The Atlantic by staff writer Mark Leibovich suggested that a prominent Democrat should launch a primary challenge to Biden, arguing that it would give Democrats a “choice” and “freedom” to vote for someone other than the oldest president in history.
Leibovich suggested that a primary challenger who is “unfailingly gracious to Biden and reverential of his career” could provide an alternative to the current president, who is 80 years old and will be 82 on Inauguration Day 2025 if he is re-elected.
While Leibovich’s article received a lot of attention, it is important to note that he is a staff writer for a far-left magazine and a former correspondent for the New York Times Magazine. Many Democrats have dismissed the idea of a primary challenge to Biden, with some arguing that it could hurt the party’s chances in the general election.
Despite concerns about Biden’s age and mental fitness, the president’s supporters remain confident in his ability to win re-election.
First Lady Jill Biden recently told the Associated Press that her husband is ready to announce his candidacy for re-election, and that he is only waiting for a determined place and time.
She dismissed media reports that suggest the president’s decision to launch a campaign has been delayed, and said that Biden has not yet made a final decision.
However, some Democrats are worried about the president’s ability to win re-election and lead the party to victory. According to polling, only 37 percent of Democrats want him to launch a second bid, down from 52 percent before the 2022 midterm elections. Moreover, 57 percent of Americans doubt Biden’s mental fitness to serve, while 43 percent said he is mentally fit. Notably, 66 percent of independents had doubts.
In addition to concerns about Biden’s age and mental fitness, some Democrats are worried about the prospect of a messy succession battle if Biden were to step down before the end of his term. According to Politico Magazine’s Jonathan Martin, Democrats fear the battle over Vice President Kamala Harris that would ensue if Biden were to pull out of the race.
Despite these concerns, many Democrats remain confident that Biden will be able to win re-election in 2024. They point to his strong track record on issues like the economy, healthcare, and climate change, as well as his ability to bring people together and unite the party. While the media may continue to speculate about potential challengers to Biden’s re-election bid, it is ultimately up to the voters to decide who they want to lead the country for the next four years.