In regards to whether or not to run for president in 2024, Joe Biden is still undecided.
The President stated last month that he intended to run for office again in an interview with CBS’s “60 Minutes.” However, it’s only an intention. But have you really decided that I should run again? That is still up in the air.
Assume for the sake of argument that Biden decides to seek reelection in two years. Prove to the American people that he can campaign across the entire nation for the duration of the campaign will be his straightforward but significant challenge.
According to Megan McArdle’s most recent piece in The Washington Post, it reads as follows:
“You only need to watch film from a decade ago to notice that the president seems to be moving more slowly now. Although he won’t be expected to solve crossword puzzles quickly in order to manage a foreign policy crisis, this does not imply that he is unsuitable to serve as president. But regardless of the nature of the issue, politics is involved.
If I expand somewhat from McArdle’s reasoning, it goes something like this:
1. Biden fared horribly in early primary and caucus states where personal canvassing was prized.
2. He was spared by the support of Black voters in the Palmetto State and the backing of South Carolina Rep. Jim Clyburn.
3. As a result of the nationwide lockdown caused by Covid-19, the primary election was basically over after that victory in South Carolina.
4. The general election campaign didn’t really qualify as a campaign either. Biden attended extremely few live events, and those that he did attend had relatively few attendees.
5. The pandemic will have passed by the time the 2024 election comes around (Biden claims it has already), and politics will resume as usual. Biden will therefore need to actively campaign, something he hasn’t done in years.
McArdle once more:
“Whether Republicans choose to select Trump or someone else, his opponent will be out there on the campaign trail, rousing support from the people and demonstrating their endurance for the position. If Biden doesn’t do the same, he will be giving them the upper hand, especially since they won’t be afraid to use that information to cast doubt on his suitability.
Numerous polls have revealed that the electorate, including a sizable portion of Democrats, are really uncertain about whether Biden should run for office again, with his age serving as a major contributing factor.
Regardless of your opinion of McArdle, she makes a thought-provoking and crucial point: Given Biden’s advanced age and gaffes like the one this week with the late Rep. Jackie Walorski, people will be closely watching how he conducts himself as a contender in 2024.
