Joseph Biden
Announcement of Candidacy
On April 25, 2023, President Joe Biden officially announced his candidacy for re-election in a video message, highlighting his administration's achievements and his commitment to continuing his agenda.
Campaign Platform Focus Areas:
- Economic Equity: Advocated for policies that support economic justice, including higher minimum wages, paid family leave, and affordable childcare.
- Healthcare: Pushed for expanding the Affordable Care Act and implementing a public option to ensure healthcare access for all Americans.
- Climate Change: Promoted aggressive action on climate change, including a transition to renewable energy sources and investments in green technology.
- Social Justice: Emphasized criminal justice reform, protection of voting rights, and efforts to combat systemic racism.
Key Endorsements
After Biden announced his campaign for re-election, he received endorsements from prominent Democratic figures, including former President Barack Obama, former President Bill Clinton, former President Jimmy Carter, former Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, Vice President Kamala Harris, and other various Democratic governors and senators.
Key Challenges
As a presidential candidate, Biden also faced numerous challenges.
- Primary Opposition: Faced challenges from within the Democratic Party, with several candidates questioning his age and advocating for a new generation of leadership.
- Public Opinion: Navigated fluctuating public opinion, particularly regarding his handling of the economy and inflation.
- Republican Criticism: Addressed criticisms from Republican candidates, who focused on issues such as immigration, crime, and economic policies.
These challenges only became further exacerbated as he progressed into the first 2024 Presidential Debate
First Presidential Debate
On June 27, 2024, Biden had his first Presidential Debate against Donald Trump. Based on the Missouri Independent, Biden was at a tactical disadvantage during the debate, but he also did not have a clear strategy focusing on strengths and isolating his arguments and attacks on Trump on the most critical issues. Many of Trump’s arguments are easily subsumed under such key issues, and a lesson from academic debaters is to group them in a way that bolsters Biden’s accomplishments without getting into the weeds. Consequently, many of his critics viewed his performance as weak and a sign of cognitive decline - lowering the country's overall confidence in his ability to lead
Withdrawal & Aftermath
Faced with strong negative reception and an unstable health due to COVID-19, President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race on July 21, 2024. Specifically, he cited health concerns and the need for new leadership within the Democratic Party, as well as his desire to focus on fulfilling his duties as President for the remainder of his term, rather than splitting his attention with campaigning. His withdrawal led to a significant reshuffling of the Democratic primary field, with several prominent candidates vying to fill the leadership void.
During this time, Biden pledged his support to Kamala Harris, whom we will discuss in the next section. Biden strongly emphasized party unity and the importance of defeating the Republican candidate in the general election. Consequently, his campaign and subsequent withdrawal were seen as a critical moment in the 2024 election cycle, shaping the direction of the Democratic Party and its policies.