President Biden has announced that he will seek another term in the Oval Office, despite the fact that he will be 81 on Election Day 2024.
Not everyone is overjoyed about that prospect — more than half of Democrats don’t want him to run again. Nonetheless, the party’s leaders are increasingly confident about his chances. Jonathan Weisman, a political correspondent for The Times, explains why.
Guest: Jonathan Weisman, a political correspondent for The New York Times.
Background reading:
- Mr. Biden has acknowledged that he has not accomplished all he wished to. But that, he maintains, is an argument for his re-election.
- Although his poll numbers remain low, structural advantages have Democrats insisting that Mr. Biden is better positioned than his Republican rivals.
For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
This is an unofficial transcript meant for reference. Accuracy is not guaranteed.
It started first at Dana farmer cancer institute with doktor stanley cores meyer, who identified bcg too as a protein that keeps cells alive. Doktor anthony le tie further that
foliage by guiding a b to inhibitor into the clinic which causes cancer cells to self destruct and has become a powerful agent against
blood cancer is one billion
discovery building on another. This is Dena farmer
momentum at work find out more
Dana of harbour, dot, org slashed stories from new york times. I'm Michael ballroom
This is a daily. Today, more than half of Democrats dont want Joe Biden to seek a second term
but as he formerly embarks on his re election campaign, democratic leaders are increasingly confident that the pools field
capture binds real strength in that the
Twelve mab fever, seven over a republic
Michael.
Jonathan weissmann, explains why it's Wednesday april twenty sixth jonathan, we woke up to the more into a form of
who does not exactly earth shattering now exactly shocking, but nevertheless very important. That's right, Joe Biden is running for re election and he announced it as we expected with a video posted to the internet, freedom,
and personal freedom is fundamental to who we are as americans, and he repeatedly evokes two words: freedom and rights
but you know around the country now you're famous or line up to take on those bedrock freedoms. It talks about banning box. He talks about
all trying to control who you love dictate what healthcare decisions. Women can make people trying to tell women what they can do with their pregnancies.
All I'm making it more difficult for you to be able to vote. Joe Biden isn't
making an argument about his record as president
When I ran for present four years ago, I should
in a ban from the america, and we still are
he's making an argument that this is a values election for what he called four years ago,
soul of america,
only for real action,
I know america and he puts the twenty twenty four raise as another contest between
those who want to curtail our rights and freedoms and those who want to push the nation forward towards a more
perfect. You finish
This is nothing and was interesting about this. Video is that Biden does not explicitly refer to donald trump, but the fact that europe has also running again is clearly the backdrop for this entire announcement and so Biden seems to be an tis, a painting, a rematch, a twenty twenty campaign. Part too. But if we're being honest, this is not a biden. We election campaign that vote
of either party have exactly been clamouring for now about. Seventy percent of americans don't want Joe Biden to run for re election, and that includes about fifty one percent of Democrats
man will be eighty one years old on election day. Twenty twenty four he's already, the oldest president in american history, he'll be eighty six at the end of his second term,
that's pretty old and in the eyes of a lot of americans. There's a real worry there. It's a very difficult and tricky issue, and yet, if you talk to the democratic cognisant of the
Leaders of the party they're pretty happy with the way things are developing, so explain that gap between voters and democratic party leaders and why they are so confident despite voters, anxieties around by democratically
We are looking at the structural advantages that president Biden has going into two thousand and twenty four and the most important structural advantages the map. Right now, there are only really three big swing states that matter three whiskeys
in arizona in georgia. It didn't used to be that remember one there are huge fighter were fly
and and ohio those a republican. Remember. They used to be fights over virginia virginia's democratic, so were left with three real bad around that count. Georgia, arizona,
and whisky constant and president Biden only asked of win one of those their Republicans need to sweep all three and Democrats feel pretty confident they will win either was gaunt in arizona or georgia.
Actually pause, because this is a little bit of a mind, blowing mathematical equation that you have just laid out democrats and can win back the white house by winning just one of three of the states. You just mentioned that would get Biden if he performs the way we think you will elsewhere in the country. So the two hundred and seventy electoral college votes he needs to win the election, but republicans have to sweep these three states in order to be Biden and take back the white house. So those odds are extremely good for president Biden. If democrats truly are in good standing in these three states. So how good is their standing in these three states? So, let's start with georgia. Now this state was
public and for a very, very long time, but in twenty twenty Joe Biden narrowly one georgia right, then, a few weeks later, in a run off to democratic senators. John awesome,
and Raphael warnock won the state both of them there's another data point
in twenty twenty two raphia warnock had to stand for re election again and beat the republican herschel walker.
so now. We have multiple data points that do point to the fact that georgia is now a swing state that Democrats can win in state. Why an hour skip over to arizona in twenty twenty Joe Biden, one arizona narrowly
but then, two years later, in twenty twenty two, we had a dramatic contest for the governorship of arizona. Where carry lay.
ran as a trump heir, apparent against a fairly quiet, low, key democrat and again the democratic candidate for governor one, and going in
twenty twenty four there's a lot of turmoil on the right in arizona, whereas the Democrats now have an infrastructure with a democratic governor that will help Joe Biden. Try to defend his twenty twenty victory. There
got it okay and then that I think, brings us to wisconsin. Wisconsin is a very interesting state,
It is heavily gerrymandered republicans control the legislature, they're overwhelmingly right, but Democrats control. Statewide offices now
Joe Biden went in and twenty twenty and won it two years later and twenty twenty two, the democratic governor, tony evers, one reelection narrowly, but he wanted
now comes the final data point I want to point out earlier this month. In April, there was a heavily contested race for a supreme court seat in wisconsin, both parties poor
money in they took it extremely seriously and the democratic candidate for the supreme court, one by eleven percentage points
That was a resounding victory in a state that has been fifty fifty for over a decade and in a very good,
for democrats that raise for supreme court revolved around one issue: abortion right, which is a good issue if your Joe Biden, because you are for abortion rights and republicans in this moment, are very much restricting abortion. So from everything you're saying, the thinking from Democrats has
to be that winning one of these states, where these three seems eminently doable? They ve all proven themselves friendly to Biden in statewide elections, since he became
then, and the issues that are coming up in these states like abortion are good for Biden. So that has to be wide. Democrats are feeling confident
Joe Biden being their nominee despite voters. Questions about his age, and perhaps
kind of like men, s about him as a candidate right, stop looking
At nationwide, Paul's stop looking at Joe binds approval rating of course
those way on our minds- and they certainly way on democratic mines. But if you look at how presidential elections are one,
their one on issues and their one on terrain.
The map, and for now, for now the map
and the issues terrain looks very good for Joe Biden.
If I'm reworking the lines of what you're saying for democratic leaders, this is a clear case of it. Ain't broke, don't try to fix it as a good way to put it people know.
Joe Biden, they ve known him for years and years, it will be very difficult for republicans to somehow re brand him and the Democrats are thinking. Let's not try anything fancy, let's go forward with Joe Biden and a challenge to Joe Biden, a primary that perhaps might satisfy some Democrats. Hunger for a true contest in which the most popular person emerges using the leadership of the party just thinks. That is a bad idea. It can only make things more complicated. Let's not even entertain that idea.
right and let's look at what happened in the past when incumbent president has faced a fairly serious challenge or in a primary there was Jimmy carter who had to beat back tat kennedy, and then there was george h, w bush, who had to be,
pat buchanan. In both cases they limped out of the primary season and were beaten by the opposite party in the election. Democrats. Don't want that to happen and there's a good reason for that, because if Joe Biden,
faces an opponent, especially a more liberal opponent. He'll be put to the left on very difficult issues, and
He might have to embrace positions to win over democrats. That would come back to haunt him in november against the republican candidate, and so the question for republicans now given at glide path you described to binds renomination is: is there anything that they can do to over
come this man. Of course this is a nation that is extremely narrow, divided, but it will be difficult
all be right back.
I'm Diana when I'm a producer on the daily, and I worked on an episode about how these really complicated global forces impact,
this one ranching family, I'm just gonna- I'm recording now board everything. I've lived in
One of the most rural pockets of taxes- and I always her
french or say its super hard to make a living, but I didn't really get the economics of it at all. In making this episode I started to.
your stand. How decades of consolidation in this industry has made it tough for the people who produce our food? It's important to me.
that. We were able to tell this story about rural america on the day
We have this amazing group of producers from all over the map who are bringing their own life experiences to the stories that we tell every day, but it takes a lot of resources and we need your support to keep doing that work. You can help us make the daily by subscribing to the new york times. Thank you, Sir Jonathan. What can republicans do with donald trump as their leading front runner for the nomination and twenty twenty four to counteract that map you just described
as difficult for them to overcome it will be really hard. The fact is, everyone knows donald trump. They all have an opinion. More than half the country doesn't like him and to have trump as their standard bearer makes it virtually impossible for republicans to make this a referendum on Joe Biden, because tromp is always going to be the counter the contrast, it will be a choice between Joe Biden and donald trump, and let's look at the.
States in georgia. Donald trump chose herschel walker to run for the senate. Andy lost
in arizona donald trump loved carry lake carry lake was the theme.
Donald trump and she lost her rays for governor even wisconsin. Donald trump chose the candidate to challenge governor tony avers and again the republican kennedy law.
asked. The race writer presumably have gone from himself is on the ballot in these three states he's not gonna fair, much better than the candidates he endorsed in those states who lost all within the past two years. It's hard to see how Donald trump
changes. Who donald trump is he never has he never will ok. So what about an alternative to trump such as for governor, want
Santas would nominating someone like dissent as help republicans do better in these three states, probably not,
the santa's has come to find himself in his brand as a social conservative. He just signed a bill in florida banning abortion at six weeks. He is now tarred as an anti abortion candidate, but, moreover, his jousting with disney his
constant attacks on awoke ism have made him a hero among social conservatives, but
four swing. Voters who are looking for more economic message who are looking for
more central message, rhonda sand
is not. The answer is not clear that in those three stage, georgia, arizona in wisconsin, dissenters is standing and chances are that much better than donald trump, because what would seem to be best from republicans in those three states would probably be someone who is.
Moderate, especially on social issues. Yes, but as we have all learned by now, the republican primary process really is led by social conservatives and very conservative voters,
just in iowa over the weekend. At an event,
our goal. Republican gathering called the faith in freedom forum, those voters. Ireland will be the first to vote on the nominees for the republican party
and they very much- are working for a fighter they're looking for somebody who will really grapple with the fate of abortion with the fate of transgender athletes. They want to go straight at the hot button issues in conservative territory, not those swing issues that might have more of appeal in a general election to your saying, the republican primary
process which is very heavily influenced by people like those who went to the faith and freedom form that you would have been iowa.
is designed to pick
surely conservative, candidate, the kind of candidate who might be very poorly positioned
to win in these three states, Georgia was causing arizona.
In the general election against binding yeah. The fact is, whereas the democratic party right now is being led by their leaders, the republican party is being led by their voters and their voters are pulling their candidates to the right. So what can republicans do when their process seems to?
We determine a conservative candidate like trump or de santas, to fundamentally improve their odds in these three states. Republicans need to really nationalized this race. They need to,
Broaden the issue terrain beyond these hot button issues like transgender
resume or abortion. They need to make enough. Americans think we just can't have another four years of Joe Biden in the white house, and we started to see that tuesday morning, just at mile com, twenty twenty more presidential race for Joe Biden, the republican national committees,
sir to Joe binds announcement. Video was a video of its own and it laid out the world of Joe Biden second term
this morning at an all time on China.
invading taiwan and the world war. Healthcare is perfect in san francisco
warning, silently escalating crime and fentanyl crisis, the city of san francisco being shut down by anarchy. These are images that actually don't exist. They were generated by a computer, but they are already trying to make americans think Joe Biden is just an unacceptable second term. President who's in charge. Here it feels like the train, is coming off. The tracks right
I watch that video and it was republican, saying that Biden is weak and that the consequences would be dangerous, and if you read between the lines that add, it seems to kind of point to the issue of capability and kind of each yes, the imagery that they're using
Is a chaotic america with no one really at the helm, and the implication is that
an octogenarian at the white house wouldn't be able to tame the forces in the united states and the globe that are working toward.
Diminishing the united states as a nation as a power, we should say Jonathan in fact, Donald trump isn't all that much younger than Joe by so that argument seems a little bed complicated,
that's right. Tromp would also be in his upper seventies by the time the election rules around and americans in poll after poll also say he's too old, but they will put Joe Biden and donald trump next to each other in add. After add, they want. So let the right clubs to make trot
or whoever the nominee is, look veer, I'll, tough, look masculine and look like he could just be Joe.
By not this is our man
given this anticipated line of republican tack, how can Biden campaign in a way that maximizes his chances in these three states? We ve been talking about what do you foresee as a strategy that plays with areas
twenty. Twenty was the weirdest campaign. Remember it was in the middle of the pandemic, and we didn't see Joe Biden pressing the flash holding here
drought, ways the way Donald trump was right and obviously obeying the rules of the band emmett, twenty twenty four,
also be an odd, odd election, because the Democrats don't want to put Biden toto with trump
in huge arenas form of people. They know that that's not Joe Biden strengthen they bride couldn't fill a huge arena of people coming to here, Joe Biden, so what they'll have him do is go across the country,
and especially to those three states, wisconsin arizona and georgia to cut ribbons and break ground on
New highways bridge is factories, semiconductor plants, wind farms, all funded by programmes and legislate.
it should that Joe Biden signed into law in his first two years of office. So this might end up feeling like a kind of smallish local form of a presidential. It's even if your goal is to win those three states and Biden only needs one of them
presumably left when all three he can run the equivalent of three local state race
that's right and it may feel to people live in wisconsin or georgia, or arizona like up it's tuesday
no binds doing a ribbon cutting downtown once again yeah. I grew up in georgia. My mother
where was in atlanta, my sister lives in atlanta. My brother moves in atlanta and I warn them that they are about to be hit by a day luge of advertising that you probably won't see in
ohio in florida. The way you once did now. I want to just caution here that we're talking about at this moment and things
can change right now. The economy is hanging tough, but let's say a recession here,
and suddenly, the map changes because circumstances have changed and then you're going to have to see Joe Biden defend turf that he didn't want to write in a week,
eighteen months from this election. That's a long way away. A lot can happen in eighteen months. Any other thing that could change, and that perhaps seems most risky for biden- is that he could change. He could suddenly have a health scare Biden's. Health is the big unknown in this race. You know what, if something
happens. What is Joe Biden has to have an unexpected surgery and
come on Harris is the president for a month as he's recovering what? If something
more serious happens. We don't know- and of course, a health crisis for the president would completely change the dynamics of this race alive,
a lot is riding on him staying healthy and if, by does day- and if republicans nominate one of the two candidates it looks like they might, then we are dealing with a race that is
as you have explained structurally very sound for democrats, their chances are quite solid, but
be a reelection. If it happens not based so much on passion for binding, but
rather the kind of small, carefully cultivated electoral, my pride and in that sense,
has a kind of money ball quality to it. Right in this case to politics, it's a little bit bloodless, I mean in politics, winning is winning is winning, but this would be a distinct kind of re election. If it happens well, Joe Biden can make this campaign whatever he wants to as big or small was he wants, is launched. Video did talk about large themes of freedom and rights, but at its heart
This is about Joe Biden and is Joe Biden loved. Is he revered no he's not, but he's not hated either. Joe Biden inspires a certain comfort level and
now against the republicans that he wants to run against. Comfort might just be good enough. Jonathan,
very much appreciated, thank you for having
The.
the.
Here's. What else you need to know that
the Biden administration says that the isis leader responsible for the death of thirteen american soldiers and dozens of civilians at the Kabul airport in two thousand and twenty one has been killed by the taliban. The united states has refused to identify the isis leader
said he planned the now infamous suicide bombing, which was designed to inflict mass casualties at the airport.
As the? U S, evacuated american soldiers and afghan civilians. In the days before the taliban took over the capital and
in a sign that the regional banking crisis may not be over. The start. Price of first were public bank of san francisco, plunged by fifty percent on one day after the bank disclosed that customers have withdrawn port than half of the bank's money over the past few weeks
First republic already received a thirty billion dollar bail out from rival backs last month, but the times reports that its ongoing problem
may require a new infusion of cash or a government take over tidies episode.
was produced by diana win and moods saying it was edited by reach question, put
show willing in devon taylor contain
of which no music by day in power and diane walk in
Was engineered by chris would our theme years is by
on board and then lands of wandering
The
That's right. I, Michael by sea debacle,.
Transcript generated on 2023-04-27.