Transcript
President Biden has formally introduced his reelection marketing campaign for president. In some ways this announcement has been anticipated all alongside, however in different methods it’s unprecedented. Let’s speak about Joe Biden’s reelection bid by the numbers.
In accordance with FiveThirtyEight’s averages Biden has a internet -10 approval ranking, which suggests extra People disapprove of his efficiency as president than approve. Whereas that’s not nice information for him, his standing isn’t all that totally different from different presidents at this level of their tenures. It’s akin to former Presidents Trump, Obama, Clinton and Reagan, although it’s properly under the place each Bush Sr. and Jr. stood.
Relating to particular person points, People give Biden decrease approval rankings on his dealing with of issues like immigration, the economic system and gun coverage than they do his total job efficiency. They price him higher on points like nationwide safety and environmental coverage.
So far as the economic system is worried, Biden is at the moment presiding over a 50-year low in unemployment, at 3.5 %. He additionally presided over a multi-decade excessive in inflation, which has come down however continues to be at 5 %.
Even with middling approval rankings, it’s often anticipated {that a} first-term president will run for reelection. In reality, the final time a president selected to not was Lyndon B. Johnson in 1968. Nonetheless, previous to Biden’s announcement, a important majority of People mentioned they didn’t suppose he ought to make a second run, together with 51 % of Democrats. Of these folks, half mentioned his age was a serious cause. Biden is already the oldest president in American historical past at 80. Have been he to win reelection, he could be 86 on the conclusion of his second time period.
To date, Biden has confronted solely marginal competitors within the Democratic main and it seems unlikely a mainstream challenger will emerge. That’s in all probability as a result of there are benefits to working as an incumbent. Out of the 45 presidents previous to Biden, solely 11 misplaced reelection, the latest being Trump and earlier than that George H.W. Bush in 1992.
Solely time will inform how these numbers will match into the general equation for Biden within the 2024 presidential election. For now, the marketing campaign begins in earnest for America’s first president from Delaware and second Catholic president ever.