While Democrats performed better than expected in the midterms, Joe Biden continues to face a public — and a party — that is skeptical of his long-term viability. No less than CNN Reports that Democrats fear the president would lose a re-election fight to a Republican candidate younger than Donald Trump.
Democrats insist they’re confident about taking on Trump, but they used terms like “uneasy” and “not great” to describe how they feel about Biden facing off with someone younger like Florida governor Ron DeSantis (R).
Dems worried about Biden
Four Democratic lawmakers told CNN that about half of their colleagues would prefer someone other than Biden in 2024.
The Democrats added that many in the party are only backing Biden, who turned 80 on Sunday, to keep the party united and avoid a hectic primary battle.
Beneath all their post-election boasting about the red wave that wasn’t and the supposed end of the Trump era, Democrats are looking ahead to 2024 with anxious eyes.
“It’s a little bit like when Trump was president, and none of the Republicans would say what they really thought on the record,” one Democratic strategist said.
Minnesota Democrat Dean Phillips is one of a few in his party who is willing to say what he really thinks, apparently, telling CNN that Biden should make way for “new generations of leaders.”
Trump days are over?
Democrats and Republicans eager to move on from Trump alike have been crowing over the midterm results, saying the GOP’s underperformance, which left the party with narrow control of the House of Representatives, proves that Trump’s days in politics are done.
Still, a new Emerson College poll found Trump, who declared a third White House run last week, leading DeSantis by 30 points, and both candidates losing to Biden by the same amount: four points.
The poll found that Biden leads the Democratic primary with 42 percent of voters, a considerably smaller lead than Trump’s 55 percent among Republicans.
Biden has equivocated on whether he will run while acknowledging the possibility that “fate” intervenes.
“My intention is that I run again,” he said this month. “But I’m a great respecter of fate.”