U.S. President Joe Biden formally announced his intention to run for a second term on Tuesday, despite the latest polling showing a dip in public support for his presidency.
“Every generation has a moment where they have had to stand up for democracy. To stand up for their fundamental freedoms. I believe this is ours,” Biden tweeted alongside a video attacking “MAGA extremists” who he claims are intent on curbing democratic freedoms.
“That’s why I’m running for reelection as President of the United States. Join us. Let’s finish the job,” he added.
The 80-year-old Democrat, who became by far the oldest U.S. president to be inaugurated in January 2021 at the age of 78, confirmed U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris will once again be his running mate in the next election, as he vowed to protect personal freedoms and equality.
Despite his recent approval ratings remaining low by historical standards, Biden is not expected to face any real competition for the Democratic nomination, and will likely compete for the White House with either former U.S. President Donald Trump, the current Republican frontrunner, or Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
It is understood Biden will meet with top Democrat donors on Friday as he begins to raise the sizeable war chest required to contest for the top job.
In his first fundraising email sent on Tuesday, Biden wrote of the Republican party: “They’re telling women what health care choices they’re allowed to make. They’re telling you what books should be in your kids’ schools. And if you don’t like it, tough luck: They’re going after your right to vote, too.”
However, as the incumbent, Biden’s campaign messaging will need to focus not just on attacking Republican policies, which he prioritized in the 2020 election, but also on providing evidence of his administration’s successes during his time in office. He will also need to alleviate the plethora of public concerns about his health and mental capacity, given his propensity to misspeak which has become synonymous with his presidency.
Persuading the public he is the right man to continue in the role will be a tough task if recent polling is to be believed. Just 47 percent of Democrats, and 26 percent of the public, believe he should seek re-election, according to an Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll last week.
Furthermore, an NBC News survey published on Sunday revealed that 70 percent of Americans do not support his re-election campaign.
Similarly, a three-day Reuters/Ipsos poll that ended on Sunday revealed Biden’s public approval has fallen to 39 percent this month, down 3 points from March. This is dangerously low historically speaking, although not yet at Biden’s all-time low of 36 percent recorded last summer.
Republicans were quick to jump on Biden’s re-election announcement with the official party posting a campaign video purporting to show a dystopian future under a second Biden term. In the video, China invaded Taiwan uncontested, financial markets had crashed, and U.S. border agents were overrun by thousands of illegal immigrants at the U.S.’ porous southern border.
Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel accused Biden of being “out of touch” with the American people in a statement on Tuesday.
“Biden is so out-of-touch that after creating crisis after crisis, he thinks he deserves another four years. If voters let Biden ‘finish the job,’ inflation will continue to skyrocket, crime rates will rise, more fentanyl will cross our open borders, children will continue to be left behind, and American families will be worse off.
“Republicans are united to beat Biden and Americans are counting down the days until they can send Biden packing,” McDaniel added.
