The title question is one that Jim Geraghty sought to answer today in the Morning Jolt. For some time now, many people assumed that Joe Biden is only running for a second term because his wife talked him into it. But perhaps there’s more going on behind the scenes than meets the eye. Jim reminds us that people inside of Biden’s campaign and his administration have told reporters on background that it was “virtually inconceivable” that Biden would run for a second term. But now he’s back in the race and it may be because of Kamala Harris. But don’t assume we mean that the Veep talked him into it. It’s pretty much the opposite of that.
Politico reported in December 2019: “According to four people who regularly talk to Biden, all of whom asked for anonymity to discuss internal campaign matters, it is virtually inconceivable that he will run for reelection in 2024, when he would be the first octogenarian president.” Some unnamed adviser told the publication, “If Biden is elected, he’s going to be 82 years old in four years and he won’t be running for reelection.”
Apparently, “Biden 2024” was not the original plan; passing the torch to Harris was apparently the plan. And now, that plan is unworkable.
Back in March, some unnamed White House official told Reuters’ Jeff Mason and Nandita Bose that Biden “is also convinced that neither Harris nor any other Democratic hopefuls would be able to beat former President Donald Trump if he is the Republican nominee.”
