During an interview this week, Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN) expressed that many Democrat lawmakers have concerns about President Joe Biden being their party’s nominee for the 2024 presidential race. He suggested that these lawmakers are hesitant to speak out about their apprehension, stating “Believe me, there are literally hundreds in Congress who would say the same thing. But they simply won’t f***ing say a word.”
It’s been speculated that Democrats may look elsewhere in 2024, as many have looked towards New York City Mayor Eric Adams, however, this statement from Rep. Philips may indicate that others are giving pushback when the discussion about moving away from Biden in the upcoming Presidental election is made public. This follows several polls indicating that Democrat voters have various reasons for not wanting Biden to be their party’s nominee again, such as unfavorable economic conditions, high inflation rates, poor foreign policy decisions, and some believing he is too old and mentally unfit for the job.
Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN) commented his statements on questioning if Democrats should look elsewhere in 2024, saying:
“This is not a knock on Joe Biden, just a wish for competition,”
“In the business world, if the dominant brand in a category had favorability ratings like the current president does, you would see a number of established brands jump into that category. Believe me, there are literally hundreds in Congress who would say the same thing. But they simply won’t f***ing say a word.”
Additionally, Biden’s recent fall on the stairs of Air Force One during his trip to Europe follows White House physician Kevin O’Connor’s statement, when he said:
“[President Biden is] a healthy, vigorous 80-year-old male who is fit to successfully execute the duties of the Presidency, to include those as Chief Executive, Head of State and Commander in Chief.”
Biden is no stranger to falling episodes, as two years after he fell multiple times while ascending the stairs to Air Force One before visiting Atlanta. In March 2021, he fell and fractured his foot while allegedly chasing one of his dogs after a shower, and last summer, he fell while standing still on his bicycle and talking to reporters.
President Biden’s frequent speech gaffes and inability to stay on track during public speaking engagements suggest his advanced age, now at 80 years old. Throughout his presidency, he has often appeared incoherent or mumbled while speaking. Democrats may recognize that Biden is too old for the presidency and that a younger Republican candidate would likely fare better against him in the 2024 presidential election. This reality leaves Democrats with no choice but to explore other options for their nominee in 2024.
