Photo credit: www.thewrap.com
Biden Reflects on 2024 Presidential Election Amidst Regrets
As President Joe Biden prepares to exit the White House, he has reportedly expressed reflections on his time in office and what he perceives as missed opportunities in his political career, particularly regarding the 2024 Presidential Election against Donald Trump. Some commentators have labeled these thoughts as unrealistic.
Will Cain, cohost of “Fox and Friends,” summarized Biden’s position, stating that the president feels regret over his decision to step away from the race. According to Cain, Biden believes he could have secured victory had he remained a candidate, a notion that some critics find “delusional.” Cain pointed to the evidence from Biden’s performance during the June debate with Trump, suggesting it reinforced doubts about his capability for another term.
Insights from a recent Washington Post article outlined some of Biden’s frustrations since he stepped back from the electoral fray. Sources indicate that there is a critical discourse surrounding his leadership style and the pressures he faced in deciding not to continue his candidacy.
Jake Sullivan, Biden’s national security adviser, noted that the president has been focused on long-term goals, in contrast to the typical four-year political cycle. Princeton historian Julian E. Zelizer emphasized that Biden has sought to govern through established processes, yet this approach may not have mitigated the deep-seated partisan anger among voters or curbed the polarization in the nation.
On a personal level, Biden recognized shortcomings in his pandemic relief approach, mentioning that he regretted not signing his name on the checks distributed to Americans during the crisis in 2021—a strategy contrasting with Trump’s actions the previous year. This oversight, he believes, could detract from his economic legacy compared to that of his predecessor.
Biden also acknowledged a lackluster performance during the key debate on June 27, which may have solidified perceptions of his fitness for office in the eyes of the electorate. Cain described Biden as proud yet somewhat “ornery,” indicating that he likely holds firm to the belief that he could have remained in the race and triumphed had circumstances been different.
Reflecting on his administration’s decisions, Biden is reported to have second-guessed his selection of Merrick Garland as attorney general. The perceived disparity in the Justice Department’s approach to prosecuting Trump versus its speed in addressing issues involving his son, Hunter Biden, has fueled this regret.
On July 21, 2024, Biden officially withdrew his candidacy for re-election and threw his support behind Vice President Kamala Harris, calling her his best decision as a party nominee in 2020. In his endorsement, Biden urged Democrats to unite in effort to defeat Trump, signaling a collaborative approach moving forward.
In a public statement made via social media, Biden articulated his commitment to focus on his presidential duties for the remainder of his term. He emphasized the importance of party unity in the upcoming electoral battle.
Source
www.thewrap.com