President Joe Biden, shown on the South Lawn of the White House on Friday, said “I have not made that formal decision …” but “it’s my intention to run again.”
WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden says he intends to seek reelection in 2024 amid growing concerns about his age but will withhold a formal announcement because campaigning and fundraising rules change if he becomes an actual candidate.
“Once I make that judgment, a whole series of regulations kick in and … I treat myself as a candidate from that moment on,” Biden said in an interview broadcast Sunday and Friday with MSNBC host Jonathan Capehart.
Biden also said “I have not made that formal decision” about the 2024 campaign, but “it’s my intention – my intention to run again. And we have time to make that decision.”
Capehart later asked Biden to speak with his Aunt Gloria, a frequent guest on the program. The president said if she and other voters have concerns about his age, the best response is “to watch me … am I slowing up?”
“I think Aunt Gloria should take a real hard look and if she concludes that I’m missing a beat, then she should support some other Democrat if they decide to run,” Biden said. Aunt Gloria later told Capehart she fully supports Biden.
Some Democrats have publicly questioned whether Biden should run again. Some skeptics cited Biden’s age – he turns 80 next month – while others mentioned a variety of political problems.
Calls for Biden’s retirement could intensify if Democrats lose control of the House and Senate after Election Day.
Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, who is locked in a tough Senate race with Republican J.D. Vance, said in September regarding Biden’s re-election bid, “My hunch is that we need new leadership across the board – Democrats, Republicans, I think it’s time for a generational move.”
Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minn., said in July doesn’t think Biden should run again, telling WCCO-AM, “I think the country would be well served by a new generation of compelling, well-prepared, dynamic Democrats to step up.”
