About a little while ago during my daily walks a thought popped into my heads…
I had been doing several post about Biden slumping polling numbers…
What? …I thought would happen if President Biden decided he wasn’t gonna do a second term?
I expressed this here in the comments section…
I admitted I had no answer for who I think would be the choice for the 2024 Democratic nomination…
I did say I did NOT believe it would be Vice President Harris , who should be the natural choice….
Lo and behold I see a Political-wire entry with the same question….
Hmmmm?
“Vice President Kamala Harris’ former staffers and fundraisers anticipate a potentially messy primary if she goes up against fellow Cabinet member Pete Buttigieg in a race for the White House,” Insiderreports.
“A free-for-all Democratic presidential primary could come as early as 2024 if President Joe Biden decides he won’t run for reelection, though he has said that he plans to. Some Democratic donors and strategists are already privately discussing what the field could look like in 2024 if Biden opts out.”
Note…
Right Now?
I hope the guy hangs in there gets back up in his numbers….
I have long thought there was at least a fair chance that an nearly 82 year old Joe Biden might not run again.
I see no reason to alter that belief.
How old would Trump be?
NOBODY seems to care about his age and he’s ALREADY got more than few screws loose and tried to overthrow a election…..
Different standards for the parties?
Trump would be 78.
Trump and Reagan were both 74 when they sought a second term.
Biden would beat them by 8 years if he runs again.
Certainly it’s a consideration .
Absolutely…….
Just about ALL of the senior ‘leaders’ of this country are over 75 years of age right now?
Age must certainly a consideration, although it affects different people differently (physical vigor, memory, mental acuity, rationality, etc.)
However, just as Biden’s age is unusual, not seeking a second term would also be highly unusual.
The last President to serve exactly four years and yet not seek another term was Rutherford B. Hayes in 1880, over 140 years ago.
Out of about 30 Presidents who hadn’t first either died or succeeded in the middle of a first term, the only other three not to seek a second four-year term (besides Hayes) were James K. Polk (1845-49), Franklin Pierce (1853-57) and James Buchanan (1857-61). All four served during the Tragic Era—from the start of the Mexican War to the effective end of Reconstruction—when the country was in danger of falling apart.
I’m hopping he hangs in there and beats Trump AGAIN by a BIGGER margin….
Here’s FiveThirtyEight on Trump vs Harris….
Biden is in remarkably good shape for a man of his age. However not wanting to be President into his mid 80s would certainly be a consideration for him.
Trump is obese. Not many folks that overweight to their 80s.
I say that as someone who could stand to lose a few pounds myself. Though I am not as overweight and more than a quarter century younger than Trump.
Great point Scott….
The ex-President was seriously ill and couldn’t walk up an inclined ramp in one instance ….
But he IS a showman….
hence the perception that Biden is ‘old’ but Trump isn’t even with the closeness in age…..
Not many folks that overweight make it to their 80s is obviously what I meant to type.