On Thursday, two sources said U.S. President Joe Biden might declare his re-election campaign by video on Tuesday, setting up a possible rematch with Republican predecessor Donald Trump.
On Tuesday, Biden, 80, will reveal four years after his 2020 campaign kickoff. However, one Thursday insider warned that the timing could vary.
“We’ll announce it relatively soon,” Biden told reporters last Friday. “I told you my plan is to run again.”
Biden, the oldest president, would be 86 after a second four-year term. A Sunday Reuters/Ipsos poll found that only 39% of Americans approve of his job performance.
The White House and DNC didn’t comment on the announcement’s timing.
Trump leads a pack of declared and undeclared Republican contenders, including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, former Vice President Mike Pence, and former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley.
In a March Reuters/Ipsos poll, 45% of Democrats said Biden should not run again in 2024, while 48% said he should.
Biden will campaign on his 27-month record since taking over from Trump.
That includes winning Congress’ approval for billions of dollars in federal funds to fight the COVID-19 pandemic and build infrastructure, restoring civility to the White House, and overseeing the lowest unemployment rates since 1969, despite a 40-year high in inflation.
He faces economic challenges, including a fight in the Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives over a $31.4 trillion debt ceiling that risks a default that would jolt global markets and precipitate a U.S. recession.
In 2024, Biden’s Democrats must defend Senate seats in Republican-leaning West Virginia, Ohio, and Montana. They control chambers 51-49.
Biden’s legislative agenda stalled when Republicans took the House in last year’s midterm election.
In recent weeks, Biden has laid out the likely themes of a re-election bid in political speeches, secured a doctor’s note that he is “fit for duty,” told Democrats to re-order the party’s primary calendar to favor his nomination, and chosen Chicago as the city where he would ostensibly become the nominee next year.
Biden will meet with top volunteer fundraisers from his last campaign next week. The costliest U.S. presidential election may depend on donors. They would also suggest that Biden’s greatest supporters have overcome reservations about his age and chances in another tough contest.
A 2024 campaign would force him to fly to Arizona, Pennsylvania, and other critical states predicted to be competitive, unlike the mainly virtual 2020 campaign owing to the pandemic.
Trump falsely accused Biden of widespread electoral fraud after losing by seven million votes in 2020.
On Jan. 6, 2021, his followers stormed the U.S. Capitol to support his claims, but Congress certified Biden’s win.
Biden will likely recall voters of these steps while praising his recent economic recovery, notably the U.S. labor market.
Biden has attacked Trump-aligned “MAGA” Republicans for seeking to destroy his legislative accomplishments, but he has avoided openly addressing Trump’s legal issues.
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