Precedent Biden: Three signs Joe’s 2024 run could end in defeat
Cami Mondeaux
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President Joe Biden delivered his second State of the Union address on Tuesday, offering a message that touted his administration’s accomplishments while painting his presidency as a job still yet to be finished — setting the stage for his expected reelection bid.
During his 72-minute address, Biden urged Congress members to “finish the job,” pointing to a number of agenda items that have yet to be achieved during his first two years in office. The speech tried to establish Biden as an effective president deserving of four more years.
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However, that could be easier said than done as Biden grapples with low polling numbers, staunch Republican opposition, and doubts from within his own party on whether he is the best option in 2024.
Biden has not yet confirmed he is running for a second term, but an announcement is expected in the coming weeks. Here are three signs that a possible 2024 run for Biden could end in defeat:
Voters seek young blood
At 80 years old, Biden is already the oldest president to ever take the Oval Office. That could prove challenging for the Democrat as voters lean toward wanting a younger commander in chief.
A majority of voters (50%) would prefer a candidate that is between 51-65 years old, according to a poll from Suffolk University/USA Today in December. Another 25% said they want a candidate who is between 35-50 years old, with only 8% saying they want someone who is older than 66, the poll shows. Roughly 15% said age doesn’t matter.
Meanwhile, a majority of Democrats say one term is enough for Biden, with only 37% of the party saying he should seek a second term, according to recent polling from the Associated Press and NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Most respondents cited his age as a liability.
Democrats consider alternative candidates
As Biden mulls another White House term, most Democrats are seeking alternative options to take the nation’s highest office.
Only 37% of Democrats say Biden should seek a second term, down from 52% who said the same in October, according to recent polling from the Associated Press. Overall, only 22% of voters say Biden should run for reelection.
Beyond that, a majority of Democrats report low confidence in Biden’s ability to work across the aisle in Congress, especially when it comes to government spending or major policy goals, the poll shows.
Hypothetical matchups show Biden facing tough challenges in Trump, DeSantis
Should Biden overcome party members’ hesitance to back him as the 2024 Democratic nominee, the president would still face an uphill battle to overcome the Republican candidate — especially if former President Donald Trump or Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis appears at the top of the ticket.
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In a hypothetical rematch between Biden and Trump, the former president has a slight edge with 48% of voters saying they’d back him for a second term over 45% who say the same for Biden, according to a recent poll from the Washington Post. However, most voters don’t want a rematch between the two — opening the door for DeSantis to make headway in the GOP primaries.
In a matchup between DeSantis and Biden, 47% said they would back the Florida governor compared to 43% who would vote for Biden, according to polling from Suffolk University. Another 7% remain undecided.