The Hill recently published an article titled “When is the best time for Biden to withdraw from the race?” by Douglas MacKinnon, a former speechwriter for Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush.
Biden is 80 years old and has a reputation for making gaffes and occasionally stumbling, such as when he struggled to climb the stairs of Air Force One. His list of gaffes seems to expand frequently, and he recently appeared unsteady while meeting King Charles at Buckingham Palace, relying on the King’s arm for support. Biden does not often have press conferences, and it appears that he may receive the questions beforehand.
According to MacKinnon, several Democrats who are strong supporters of the president have expressed nervousness and discomfort about Biden running in 2024.
“As stated in this space in the past, I don’t believe Biden will be the Democratic nominee in 2024. Now, while the president, his White House and his allies may predictably denounce such speculation as ridiculous or wishful thinking, what if I and others turn out to be correct?” MacKinnon writes.
MacKinnon suggested that Biden should drop out immediately when asked about the best time for him to do so. The only example of a president not running for a second term was Lyndon Johnson, who withdrew from the race less than six months before Election Day in 1968, just two weeks after Robert F. Kennedy announced his candidacy.
It should be mentioned that when Johnson withdrew, his approval rating was only 38.7%. Biden’s current rating is slightly higher at 41.2%. MacKinnon observes a significant resemblance between the circumstance in which Johnson withdrew late and the situation Biden is in currently.
“One reason for that question was a lack of confidence in then-Vice President Hubert Humphrey to retain the White House should he become the Democratic nominee. That concern was of course realized when Humphrey became the nominee and got crushed in the general election by Republican Richard Nixon,” he writes.
There are concerns among Democrats about Kamala Harris potentially winning the nomination, as her approval rating is currently at 39.2%, which is lower than Biden’s rating. Additionally, there have been reports that Biden is uncertain about Harris’ preparedness for a political battle. Some Democratic sources have claimed that Biden is frustrated with Harris’ performance in her job and doubts that she could defeat a Republican candidate in the next presidential election.
Currently, there is an interesting development in the ongoing campaign. Biden, who previously ran his campaign while staying in his basement due to the pandemic (and to avoid interacting with voters), seems to be putting in less effort this time. His campaign has hired only 20 aides and doesn’t have an official headquarters. Politico, a liberal publication, views this as a negative sign.
“Biden’s approach, while designed to save money, carries the risk of keeping his approval ratings at the low level where they are today. It also could limit his ability to better define the contours of the campaign at a time when the Republican field is bludgeoning each other in their own primary. Twelve years ago, his former boss, Barack Obama, moved swiftly in anticipation of facing off against Mitt Romney during the summer before the election year,” three reporters wrote in a story headlined “Biden’s bargain-basement campaign strategy.”
It should be noted that Biden has no plans of running in 2024 and will likely drop out of the race once a younger and popular candidate like California Governor Gavin Newsom announces their candidacy, similar to Johnson in 1968. Biden’s lackluster campaign is due to the fact that he isn’t actually running, nor is he putting in much effort.
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