President Joe Biden said he still plans to seek re-election and that hed likely make an official call early next year after Democrats staved off worst-case-scenario congressional losses in Tuesdays midterm elections.
Our intention is to run again, thats been our intention, regardless of what the outcome of this election was, Biden told reporters Wednesday at the White House.
Biden has thus far avoided officially launching his 2024 campaign, saying he intended to run but the final decision would be dependent on his health and discussions with his family.
My guess is itll be early next year that we make that judgment, he said Wednesday.
The presidents upcoming 80th birthday has fueled questions about whether he should pursue a second term.
Biden has also said he had resisted formally declaring a candidacy because he wanted to avoid running afoul of election regulations. Declaring as a candidate could have hindered his ability to raise cash for Democratic contenders before the midterm elections, and then again from the same donors for a re-election campaign.
In the weeks before Tuesdays vote, Biden has more strongly hinted hes planning a re-election run. During a radio interview with Willie Moore Jr. earlier this week, Biden said he felt 30 years younger than his actual age.
Theres so much we can do, and were just getting started, Biden said.
The previous month, Biden told MSNBC that he intended to run for a second term and that he had the support of first lady Jill Biden. On Wednesday, he again cited his family as pivotal to his decision.
My intention is that Im running again. But Im a great respecter of fate, and this is ultimately a family decision. I think everybody wants me to run, but were gonna have discussions about it, he said.
Trumps 2024 Tease
Bidens 2020 opponent former President Donald Trump appears to be priming an announcement of his own. During a rally on the eve of Election Day, Trump said he planned to make a very big announcement on Nov. 15 from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.
The previous week, Trump told supporters to get ready because he would very, very probably run again.
Biden has described Trumps continued influence in American politics as extreme, and framed much of his midterm campaigning around depicting Republicans in the thrall of the former president as a threat to democracy. In remarks at a Democratic fundraising event earlier in the year, Biden likened Trumps political philosophy to semi-fascism.
Polling suggests that Americans arent enthusiastic about the likely rematch. Just 27% of Americans say they want Biden to run again and only 28% say the same of Trump, according to a YouGov poll released earlier this month. Biden would hold a six-point polling lead in a head-to-head contest, according to a separate YouGov survey conducted late last month.
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