On Tuesday 25 April, US President Joe Biden announced his candidacy for re-election in 2024, positioning himself as the leading Democratic candidate in a potential rematch against Republican nominee Donald Trump.
This announcement coincides with the fourth anniversary of the launch of Biden’s first victorious presidential campaign.
According to a recent poll conducted by NBC News, a majority of Americans, including 51% of Democrats, are not convinced that President Joe Biden should run for re-election. The survey indicates that 70% of Americans hold this view.
Despite concerns over his age, President Joe Biden, who would be 86 at the end of a potential second term, is relying on his 50 years of experience in Washington and accomplishments during his first term to outweigh doubts about his ability to continue in office.
While he is likely to secure the Democratic nomination unopposed, winning the presidency again in a country sharply divided will be a challenging and demanding task for him.
“I said we are in a battle for the soul of America, and we still are,” Biden said in his campaign video. “The question we are facing is whether in the years ahead we have more freedom or less freedom, more rights or fewer.”
The Republican Party reacted to Biden’s announcement by calling the Democrat “out of touch”.
“Biden is so out of touch that after creating crisis after crisis, he thinks he deserves another four years,” the Republican National Committee said in a statement.
“If voters let Biden ‘finish the job’, inflation will continue to skyrocket, crime rates will rise, more fentanyl will cross our open borders, children will continue to be left behind, and American families will be worse off,” it said.
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The video features animated clips of Biden jogging and appearing engaged, set to inspiring music, while also highlighting the role of Vice-President Kamala Harris, who could assume the presidency if Biden becomes incapacitated.
However, according to veteran political consultant Bob Shrum, who has advised past Democratic presidential candidates, the announcement video alone is unlikely to be sufficient for Biden’s re-election campaign.
President Joe Biden did not experience significant pressure to declare his candidacy for the 2024 election due to his accomplishments and experience.
However, there are reasons why he has chosen to announce his bid now, and it is important to consider what will and will not change for him as he moves forward.
Although self-help author Marianne Williamson and anti-vaccine activist Robert Kennedy Jr. are running as long-shot primary challengers against President Joe Biden, he is the obvious front-runner as a sitting president in the race for the Democratic nomination.
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As the current president, Joe Biden will have the advantage of campaigning as an incumbent in the 2024 election, which includes travel on Air Force One and attending carefully planned political events with the support of his security detail. This is a stark contrast to the experiences of non-incumbent candidates who must compete in primary elections across several states, often with limited financial resources and in a crowded field. Biden’s position will give him a head start against his Republican challenger, as he will only have to endure a few weeks or months of active campaigning in the latter half of 2024.
