PHILADELPHIA – President Joe Biden posed a question to Democratic. Power brokers at a campaign-style rally Friday: “Are you with me?”
Roars of approval and “Four more years!” The Democratic National Committee’s winter meeting indicated. They were all set for Biden 2024.
Despite lackluster approval ratings, an ongoing classified documents scandal.
And polls showing most voters want the 80-year-old to retire. Biden faces zero meaningful opposition from his Democratic Party leadership. And an unimpeded path to reelection next year, even before he asks for it. declared the intention.
During a three-day gathering of elected officials, workers. Union leaders, operatives and donors this weekend. it was impossible to find serious discontent or displeasure with Biden. After hours at the hotel bar, where alcohol and opinions flowed .
“If he wants to run, everyone will be behind him 100 percent. I mean, 99.9999, but we’re the most united in a long time.” said John Bauman, a California DNC member. And president of a PAC that promotes Social Security.
“, the party has to go to younger people who are more in control. And that’s normal, but it doesn’t feel like that moment yet.” Said Bauman, better known as “Bowser” from 1950s-style rock. Role group sha no no.
There was no sign of young Democratic. Hopefuls stepping up behind the scenes to challenge Biden. Nor was there much evidence of the ideological conflicts. That have often torn the party apart in recent years.
Prominent supporters of independent Sen. Bernie.
Sanders of Vermont cheered the most on stage Friday. Next to Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. Waving printed signs — displaying an updated design. Introduced last year — that read “GO JOE” on one side and “Orange” on the other.
“very confident in what President Biden is doing and we are going to support his re-election.” Said Judith Whitmer, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America. And a former Sanders delegate who won an upset election a few years ago. To become chairman of the Nevada Democratic Party.
Of course, presidents always steer their party establishment, which doesn’t reflect rank-and-file voters. But the first signs of real trouble for Biden will likely come from insiders. As was the case with former Democratic presidents like Lyndon Johnson. And Jimmy Carter who were pushed out of the White House by friendly fire.
Both past presidents faced Democratic primary threats. With Johnson choosing not to seek re-election while Carter won the re-nomination. But struggling to rebuild the party before the November. General election, which he lost.
Outside the DNC meeting, a mobile billboard hired by a small progressive group. Urged Biden not to run, though the group acknowledged it was struggling to gain traction. Its political director, Sam Rosenthal, said he had spoken. To “some DNC members” who agreed with their campaign but were “too afraid to say so .”
a year ago, Democratic insiders had no problem displaying their anxiety and confusion.
As inflation soars and Biden’s legislative agenda stalls, up. -And-coming Democrats like California Gov. Gavin Newsom. And Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker appear to be circling the White House like vultures.
But Biden’s chances have turned around. Thanks to the passage of major bills like the Inflation. Reduction Act, improving economic news like last week’s strong jobs. Report and better-than-expected results in the midterm elections. Said Wisconsin Democratic Party Chairman Ben Wickler. Called the “proof in the pudding” of Biden’s political power.
“A lot of people have been surprised.” Georgia Democratic Rep. Nickema Williams said of Biden.
It helps that Biden is a team animal. Unlike former President Barack Obama, who started his own. Political party outside the DNC. And attended a few of the DNC’s annual meetings during his eight years in office. Biden has been to every single in-person meeting so far.
Even DNC members who didn’t back Biden in the 2020 primary used words like “wired,” “locked”. And “sewn up” to describe the White House’s grip on the party. Which it is now using to dictate how the 2024 primary will shape up and where. The next national conference will be held.
The president is sitting on enough political capital that he feels comfortable taking.
New Hampshire and Iowa, booting them from the front of the presidential primary. Calendar in the biggest shakeup of the primary process in decades. On Saturday, the DNC approved Biden’s proposal to put South Carolina first.
“This is not the first time the Democratic establishment has pondered. Whether Iowa should be in the primary window. And shot it down,” said Moe Elithy, a DNC member involved in the calendar rewrite. “People said it couldn’t be done. This president got it done.”
Democrats from New Hampshire and Iowa protested. But they knew they had no hope of standing up for Biden. — They couldn’t even hold a press conference at the DNC meeting. — And were careful not to criticize Biden or suggest. He was only campaigning in South Carolina because. He did better there than in their state in 2020.
“I’m not asking you to vote against the president,” Joan Dowdell of New Hampshire. Told the other 400-plus members of the DNC. “Because it breaks my heart to vote against his proposed calendar.”
