04/25/2023 By Meghan O’Brien
President Joe Biden Tuesday officially announced his intention to run for re-election in 2024, a decision that ask voters to extend the oldest U.S. president’s term for another four years.
“I said we are in a battle for the soul of America, and we still are,” Biden said in his announcement video. “The question we are facing is whether in the years ahead we have more freedom or less freedom. More rights or fewer.”
Biden, who has received low approval ratings from both Democrats and Republicans in recent years, may face a challenge in convincing Democrats to vote for him once again in the primaries. Although there are no outstanding competitors for the Democratic nomination for Biden at this time, a poll recently conducted by The Associated Press stated that only 26% of the overall American population and 47% of registered Democrats wanted Biden to run for re-election in 2024.
These numbers have increased since January, but if Biden intends to sway more prospective voters, these numbers must be far above the 50th percentile by the time the Democratic primaries roll around next spring. More specifically, Biden will need to focus on grabbing the attention and support of Black voters and young voters, two demographic groups whose support for him has declined.
In recent months, more Democrats have started to support Biden’s campaign for re-election in light of former President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis being the Republican favorites for the party nomination.
In the early stages of the 2024 election, Biden’s schedule is not set to drastically change. Later this week, Biden is set to host South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol at the White House.