US President Joe Biden is reportedly telling his supporters and allies that he plans to run for a second term in the 2024 presidential elections. Biden's message is being seen as an effort by the US president to check the increasing infighting in the party in view of his falling approval ratings. By conveying his intentions of running for the second term, Biden has also reportedly dampened vice president Kamala Harris's plans to run for the presidency in 2024.
Of late, the US media has been speculating over growing tensions between the president and his deputy. Some of the reports went on to suggest that Kamala Harris was feeling "sidelined" in the administration as the president, in her view, had not given her significant responsibilities.
In recent days, the US President and members of his inner circle have reportedly reassured allies on his plans to run for reelection in 2024, despite the growing ambiguity around his health and age being a hindrance to his performance. Biden who is already the oldest president in US history turned 79 on Saturday and he will be 82 by the time of the next election.
The message of his willingness to run for the reelection is also aimed at wiping out the preparatory work by other contenders, which also includes vice president Kamala Harris.
“The only thing I’ve heard him say is he’s planning on running again. And I’m glad he is,” former Senator Christopher Dodd, a close friend of the president told Washington Post.
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There is growing anxiety among the democrats over their party's prospects in the 2022 mid-term poll. Presently, the Democrats have a majority in both the House of Representatives the Senate. However, the full House of Representatives and a third of the Senate will be up for reelection next year.
Moreover, Harris does not have enough support to win a party nomination she is widely perceived in political circles for not being up to the mark as she also failed to win any delegates in the 2020 race. Biden had still picked her as a running mate.
Recent media reports also indicated growing tension between both President Biden and Vice President Harris and the office has also witnessed a couple of high-profile exits from their staff in recent days. However, the speculations about the rift and succession had reduced after Biden delegated the presidential power to Harris when he went under anesthesia for a colonoscopy on Friday. Both made a joint appearance at the signing of the infrastructure bill and invocation of a section of the 25th amendment delegating presidential power.
“If Biden doesn’t run, some fear an open and potentially bruising primary campaign with no clear front-runner. Harris, seen at the start of the administration as a potential heir apparent, has stumbled in the eyes of many Democrats, opening the door to conversations in the party about the prospect of others leading the ticket if Biden steps aside,” transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg told the Post on Sunday.
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Buttigieg is also seen as a potential rival to Harris from the administration in some quarters within the party and the cabinet. As both Biden and Harris are polling poorly in surveys, the chances of Buttigieg to boost his profile ahead of the mid-term polls stays higher.
