Democrats Grapple with Biden's Decline and Re-election Hopes

As the Democratic Party works to rebuild its brand following a bruising defeat in the 2024 presidential election, prominent Democrats are struggling with revived questions about former President Joe Biden's physical and mental decline, and whether he had the capacity to run for re-election. The party's response has ranged from introspection to a desire to move forward, with some lawmakers and potential 2028 presidential contenders acknowledging that Biden's health may have been a factor in his decision to seek another term. The debate is further complicated by revelations in a forthcoming book detailing Biden's decline, which has sparked concerns about his ability to serve effectively in office.

Key Takeaways:

• House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries stated that the party is "moving forward" and not looking backward, while also acknowledging that Biden's decision to run for re-election was a "major risk."
• Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg expressed that, in hindsight, Democrats may have been better off if Biden hadn't run for re-election, but also defended his former boss by saying he "got it" from Biden when needed.
• Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker suggested that Biden should have either remained the party's nominee or not sought a second term, as his eventual exit from the race made it "near impossible" for Kamala Harris to introduce herself to the public.
• Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer noted that it's unclear whether Trump would have won the election if Biden had decided not to seek re-election from the beginning of the race or dropped out earlier in the campaign.
• Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez explained why she publicly backed Biden after the June debate, arguing that changing the nominee 90 days before a presidential election was a "major risk."
• The book from Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson, based on more than 200 interviews, raised questions about Biden's physical and mental capabilities in office, including anecdotes such as Biden not recognizing George Clooney and some aides discussing him potentially needing a wheelchair in a second term.
• Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer brushed off a question about whether he was being honest with Americans about Biden's mental capacity, stating that the party is "just looking forward."
• David Axelrod, CNN's chief political analyst and former senior adviser to Barack Obama, suggested that it's ill-advised for the Bidens to re-engage in the political conversation, as it plays into Trump's hands.

Statistics:

• The Democratic Party's favorability rating among Americans fell to a record low this year, according to a CNN poll conducted by SSRS in March, with just 29% of Americans reporting a favorable view of the party.
• Only 63% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents reported a favorable view of their own party.
• The party's favorability rating has been declining since 2022, with a CNN poll showing a 10-point drop in just one year.

Sources:

• CNN
• "Original Sin: President Biden's Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again" by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson
• ABC's "The View"
• CNN's "The View"
• X (Twitter alternative)
• CNN poll conducted by SSRS in March
• CNN's chief political analyst David Axelrod
• Former President Barack Obama's senior adviser