Joe Biden, 80, said Wednesday he “intends” to run in 2024 but has “not yet made a final decision,” in a PBS interview.
“I am someone who believes in fate. I would be completely honest with the Americans if I thought that a health problem or anything prevented me from doing my job, also declared the American president. He again urged those who are worried about his age to “watch” him in action. The US president had undergone a detailed medical check-up about a year ago, concluding that he was “vigorous” and “in good health”.
It must be said that some recent opinion polls have shown that is far from convincing a majority of voters, even within his own party. Some Democrats, often privately, have expressed doubts about Joe Biden’s ability to stay in power for another six years.
“I would be completely, thoroughly honest with the American people if I thought there was a health problem — anything that would keep me from being able to do the job.”
— President Biden to @JudyWoodruffon concerns raised about his age pic.twitter.com/6XqwI3S6vR
— PBS NewsHour (@NewsHour) February 8, 2023
A speech that points to a candidacy
However, many observers have interpreted his State of the Union address, given the day before before Congress in Washington, as a first milestone in his future campaign for re-election.
Read also: Joe Biden relaunches a tax offensive with very electoral aims
If only by the “vigor” he showed during this performance, judged by the New York Times, notably when he responded to the cries of his Republican opponents: “if the goal was to shake the president or demonstrate his fragility, it had the opposite effect.” The fact that he has repeatedly affirmed his desire to “finish the job” is “a thinly veiled argument that voters should grant him a second term,” the daily said.
As for the content of his speech, by listing various measures he was calling for, Joe Biden “gave a glimpse of what his electoral program could be”, and “clearly indicated that he did not have the intention to curb his political ambitions,” notes the BCC.
The news channel also believes that the “much better than expected results of the Democrats in the midterm elections last year”, as well as the fact of not having a “serious opponent” in the Democratic camp, explain why the president “feels in a good position to win a second term”.
Despite these elements playing in its favour, its success is by no means guaranteed. But if he were to choose to run again, it is highly unlikely that a prominent member of the Democratic Party would dare to go against the current president.
And also: The Joe Biden paradox still on track for re-election in 2024