President Joe Biden’s testy response to a reporter’s question on whether he plans to run for re-election in 2024 has fueled speculation on his political future.
During his visit to Ireland, Biden stated that he had already made a decision on whether he would seek a second term but did not reveal any details. As he prepared to leave for home, a reporter asked if recent events had changed his calculus.
Biden snapped, “No, no, no, no. I’ve already made that calculus. We’ll announce it relatively soon.” He added, “But the trip here just reinforced my sense of optimism about what can be done.”
The first lady, Jill Biden, had previously revealed that her husband was “pretty much” prepared to run for re-election, and the White House press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, confirmed in February that the president “intends to run” again in 2024.
The president has also recently attracted a few challengers for the 2024 Democratic nomination, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Marianne Williamson. Another potential candidate is California Governor Gavin Newsom, who has been touring the country in recent weeks.
Despite his intentions, Biden’s potential run may not be a popular decision among Democratic voters. A Yahoo News/YouGov poll in March showed that a majority of registered voters believe that the 80-year-old president is “too old for another term” in office. Almost seven out of 10 voters (68%) admitted that Biden’s age is a problem for them.
The poll found that more Democrats agree with this assessment than disagree, with roughly 48% of Democrat voters saying that Biden’s age is a concern for them.
Although Biden has not officially declared his candidacy, he has repeatedly said that he intends to run. However, his age and health may become a concern for voters as the 2024 election approaches.