Joe Biden is officially running for a second term as President of the United States. This decision has generated blistering condemnation from some of his own party’s most ardent supporters. Notable figures such as Beto O’Rourke have publicly condemned the president’s choice, claiming it jeopardizes the Democratic party’s chances in the upcoming election. O’Rourke specifically stated that Biden “failed this country in the most important job that he had,” reflecting a growing concern among Democrats regarding his leadership and capabilities.
Those criticisms grew louder after Biden’s dismal performance in a debate against Donald Trump on June 27, 2024. Countless media pundits declared it the worst debate in history, triggering further concern and speculation about Biden’s mental sharpness, age and fitness for office. Less than a month after this performance, Biden announced his decision to withdraw from the race in late July 2024. O’Rourke didn’t mince words to complete the picture of his frustrations. He alleged that Biden “completely messed us up” by staying in the race so long, a decision that some argue crippled the party’s electoral chances.
A book published just last week, “Original Sin,” has stoked these fears even more. It accuses Biden’s inner circle of covering up his deteriorating mental health until after it was too late to make a change. This disturbing revelation has set off red flags about Biden’s fitness to serve. It endangers the Democratic Party as they try to steer their ship through a stormy political sea.
In addition to O’Rourke’s criticisms, David Plouffe, a key aide to Kamala Harris’s campaign, has expressed discontent with Biden’s approach to running for re-election. Plouffe’s remarks underscore a sense of unease among party insiders who worry about Biden’s capability to lead and connect with voters effectively.
Indeed, Biden is three years older than Trump. Since he was inaugurated four years ago, he’s been under growing scrutiny over his age and mental acuity. His administration has been criticized for many issues, including the major changes in immigration policies and freezing of funding. All these issues have failed to make a real dent in his debate performance or his re-election choices.
O’Rourke articulated a broader concern, stating, “To literally run the oldest guy who many people, accurately … said, ‘I just don’t think he is capable of doing this’ … I think that credibility problem is going to persist up until when Democrats say: ‘We fucked up and we made a terrible mistake.’” This quote, though, gets at the mood that has gripped a lot of Democrats as they head into the next election cycle.
In response to the ongoing debate about Biden’s mental faculties, a spokesperson for the president asserted that “evidence of aging is not evidence of mental incapacity.” This detailed defense is intended to assuage fears from all sides, supporters and critics alike, about the president’s capacity to serve.
In the aftermath of his departure from the race, Biden came out to endorse Kamala Harris to take over for him. Unfortunately for Harris, she got swallowed up by her own issues, and she too lost the nomination to eventual winner Donald Trump. Political climate under Biden presidency raises questions about his decision to run for reelection. This move could be a tactical blunder that dogs the donkeys for years to come.