The US president has again chosen Vice President Kamala Harris as his running mate
US President Joe Biden has formally announced his 2024 re-election bid, a move that had been widely expected for months. The move comes despite opinion polls showing that most voters, including a majority of fellow Democrats, did not want the 80-year-old to seek a second term.
In a video statement released on Tuesday, Biden touted his new campaign as a fight for democracy in the US. He said his pledge to fight “for the soul of America,” which was the core message of his 2020 run, remains valid.
“The question we are facing is whether in the years ahead we have more freedom or less freedom. More rights or fewer,” Biden said in the address. “I know what I want the answer to be and I think you do too. This is not a time to be complacent. That’s why I’m running for re-election.”
The announcement puts Biden on course for a possible rematch against former president Donald Trump, who is viewed as a frontrunner for the Republican nomination.
So far two Democratic challengers have confirmed their bids for the party nomination in 2024. Author Marianne Williamson declared her bid in late February, while Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the nephew of President John F. Kennedy, launched his campaign earlier this month.
As the sitting president, Biden enjoys the support of the party establishment and many of the leading media outlets, which have described challengers for the nomination as unlikely to succeed. However, public opinion appears to be stacked against his second run.
An opinion poll by NBC News, published on Sunday, showed that 70% of Americans and 51% of Democratic Party voters do not want him to seek re-election. His age, perceived unreliability and lackluster performance during his first term were cited among the reasons why people would prefer to have someone else in the race.
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