Clyburn convinced Biden will seek reelection, warns Democrats not to challenge him
Cami Mondeaux
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Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC) said he is convinced President Joe Biden will seek another White House term in 2024 despite the president not yet announcing his plans.
In a wide-ranging interview with CBS News on Wednesday, Clyburn said he’s sure Biden will seek reelection and that the South Carolina Democrat has pressed the president to announce his bid. Clyburn’s comments come as Democrats wait for Biden to indicate his plan, which is likely to determine whether other party members will also throw their hats in the ring.
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However, Clyburn warned Democrats who may be considering a White House bid not to challenge Biden in the primaries.
“I don’t think he will [face a primary challenger], and I don’t think he should,” Clyburn said. “The history is very clear on what happens when you challenge a sitting president like this.”
It’s not clear when Biden will reveal whether he plans to run for reelection, and White House aides have said a timeline for such an announcement has not yet been finalized. However, Biden has indicated he will not launch a campaign before he is scheduled to deliver the State of the Union address on Feb. 7.
“We want him to be a president at [the] State of the Union, not a candidate,” a White House aide told NBC News.
His reelection decision comes as Biden faces a number of investigations after classified documents were found in his private office at the Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement and his personal residence in Wilmington, Delaware.
Some of the documents obtained from Biden’s think tank office reportedly include intelligence and briefing materials on “topics including Ukraine, Iran, and the United Kingdom,” according to CNN. Although it’s not clear what information that may entail, it could open Biden up to accusations that he jeopardized national security.
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However, Biden officials say the investigations would not affect his reelection plans.
“The president is honoring his promise to respect the independence of the Department of Justice and divorce it from politics,” deputy press secretary Andrew Bates said in a statement.