Topline
President Joe Biden intends to run for re-election, but is delaying an announcement until an unidentified date, he said Monday, inching closer to confirming expectations he will seek a second term after months of speculation surrounding his plans.
President Joe Biden holds hands with first lady Jill Biden as they walk from Marine One upon arrival … [+]
Key Facts
Biden told NBC’s Al Roker: “I plan on running, but we’re not prepared to announce it yet,” he said from the White House’s annual Easter egg roll.
The comments follow similar statements last week from White House spokesperson Andrew Bates, who told CNN “Biden has been clear that he intends to run,” adding “there has never been a timeframe for any announcement.”
First Lady Jill Biden has also indicated her husband will wage a second run for the White House, telling the Associated Press in February “he’s not done. He’s not finished what he started.”
Key Background
Biden has been carving out a clear messaging strategy ahead of a potential 2024 re-election bid, but reportedly has yet to build his campaign team. He has not hired a campaign manager, determined a re-election headquarters or a date for announcing his candidacy, CNN reported last week. Foreshadowing rhetoric that could carry to a 2024 campaign, the Biden Administration has been vocal in accusing Republicans of threatening to “defund” federal agencies and programs, such as the FBI and Justice Department and Social Security and Medicare. He has also boosted his own record on post-Covid-19 job creation and bipartisan legislation he has signed into law, including a $1 trillion infrastructure bill and the first major gun-control legislation in decades.
Tangent
Two long-shot Democratic candidates have also announced plans to run in 2024. Author Marianne Williamson became the first potential Biden challenger on March 4, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced last week that he would run.
Big Number
42.5%. That’s Biden’s job approval rating as of April 7, according to FiveThirtyEight’s poll tracker, representing a slight uptick from his 41.8% approval rating at the same time last year. However, a CNN/SSRS poll released last week found just 32% of Americans believe he should be re-elected, a five-point decline since December.
Further Reading
Jill Biden Vows President Will Run In 2024: ‘How Many Times Does He Have To Say It?’ (Forbes)
State Of The Union 2023: What To Watch For As Biden Addresses A Split Congress Before A Potential 2024 Run (Forbes)
RFK Jr. Challenging Biden For Democratic Nomination—But Anti-Vaccine Activist Has Little Chance (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2023/04/10/biden-says-he-plans-on-running-for-re-election/