- A new poll by The New York Times and Siena College suggests that Democrats could have a stronger chance at winning in 2024 if President Joe Biden step aside for a younger successor. The survey found low enthusiasm among Democrats for the re-nomination of either Biden or a potential decision by the president against running for reelection in favor of endorsing his vice president, Kamala Harris, to run in his stead.
- However, the latter option was more popular among members of the president’s party by six percentage points, indicating that Democrats’ primary concern with the Biden brand is the stamina of the candidate himself.
- However, the percentage of Democratic primary voters who were unsure about how they would feel about their party’s nominee jumps slightly if Ms. Harris takes the reins, and the total percentage of primary voters who were at the very least “satisfied” with their party’s pick was actually lower with Ms. Harris at the top of the ticket. The presidents’ only primary opponents are Marianne Williamson and Joe Biden.
- Enthusiasm among primary voters is an important factor for candidates involved in especially close races, as voters sour on the idea of re-electing someone who was already the oldest individual to ever take the oath of office of president, even as his likely opponent is battered by escalating legal troubles.
- Hillary Clinton’s inability to stoke enthusiasm for her campaign after her defeat of Bernie Sanders in the 2016 Democratic primary was viewed as a significant factor leading to her eventual loss to Trump that year.
- As it stands, Biden will almost certainly be his party’s nominee, concerns about age aside. His two announced challengers for the Democratic nomination, Robert F Kennedy Jr and Marianne Williamson, trailed him by more than 50 points each.
Source:
The Independent
