by Mary Lou Masters
President Joe Biden has yet to make a decision about running for a second term in 2024, and potential Democratic hopefuls and party donors are bracing for an open primary, according to Politico.
Biden aides noted that the president’s decision will likely come in April, despite being previously slated for February, Politico reported. Those close to the president still believe he will run, and that his decision has been prolonged due to current events, but others in the party aren’t so sure.
“It’s not that he won’t run, and the assumption is that he will. But nothing is decided. And it won’t be decided until it is,” one Biden official told Politico.
The president hardly talks about running for reelection, Biden allies told Politico. They said he is focused on his current presidency, and only sometimes speaks with advisors about polling data.
And add to this, we should listen to old man Bernie Sanders saying he will support Biden if he runs again and is AGHAST at Nikki Haley's suggestion these old guys/gals should have competency tests before they can run? They ALL need to go if they are too brain impaired to govern.… https://t.co/pvidwVr5ra
— Dawn Marie (@DawnMar02156076) February 20, 2023
“I just don’t think he can dance around until sometime in the summer,” Mark Longabaugh, Democratic strategist, told Politico.
His delay has prompted angst among those close to the president, as they think waiting too long would put the party in a difficult position in 2024 if he chose not to run, according to Politico.
If he chooses not to run, the attention would fall on Vice President Kamala Harris, who many Democratic officials don’t want to run.
Due to the president’s indecisiveness, top Democrats, like Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota are keeping the door open, Politico reported.
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Mary Lou Masters is a reporter at Daily Caller News Foundation.
