Biden Makes 2024 Presidential Run Official
On Tuesday, President Joe Biden officially began his campaign for re-election, vowing to safeguard American freedoms against “extremists” associated with former President Donald Trump, whom he defeated in 2020 and may confront in 2024.
In a video unveiled by his new campaign staff, Biden declared his candidacy, featuring footage from the assault on the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters on January 6, 2021.
Biden said “When I ran for president four years ago, I said we’re in a battle for the soul of America, and we still are,” Biden said. “This is not a time to be complacent. That’s why I’m running for re-election.”
“Let’s finish this job. I know we can,” he added.
Age Concerns Loom over Biden Potential Re-election Bids
To secure his re-election, 80-year-old Biden must overcome worries about his age among Americans, as per a Reuters/Ipsos survey completed on Monday, with 44% of Democrats stating that he is too old to run.
Likewise, Trump, 76, faces similar age-related concerns, with 35% of Republicans indicating that he is too old.
Democrats are already grappling with a challenging election map to retain their Senate majority in 2024, and they currently form a minority in the House of Representatives.
If re-elected, Biden would be 86 at the end of his prospective second term, nearly a decade beyond the average life expectancy of a U.S. male.
In February, physicians deemed Biden “fit for duty” after an evaluation, given his abstinence from alcohol and a weekly exercise routine of five times. The White House claims that his record demonstrates that he possesses the mental sharpness necessary to handle the demands of the presidency.
Inflation Surge Poses Challenges to Biden’s Economic Agenda
Since taking office two years ago, Biden obtained congressional support for billions of dollars in federal funds to combat the COVID-19 crisis and infrastructure development, while overseeing the lowest jobless rates since 1969. However, his economic record has been marred by 40-year highs in inflation.
In a speech at the North America’s Building Trades Unions assembly on Tuesday, Biden stated that his economic plan was yielding results but added that there is “more work to be done.” Biden highlighted his policy accomplishments, and the crowd responded with chants of “four more years!”
It appears highly improbable that Biden will encounter significant opposition from within his own party. There are currently no indications that any high-ranking Democrats are considering running against him.
