President Joe Biden’s campaign operatives are becoming increasingly worried that former President Donald Trump could win the 2024 election as they grow more concerned with the president’s weaknesses and missteps, such as unease about his age, according to CNN.
When considering polls where there is no clear leader in a Biden-Trump matchup, the current president’s campaign operatives are being put through “existential stress” as they weigh the possibility Biden could lose the 2024 election, CNN reported Thursday. The operatives are concerned any misstep by the campaign or the president may lead to Trump being elected, who they consider to be a “singular threat to American democracy.”
“The president has said publicly himself that democracy is still on the ballot. If you believed that to be true the first time, you have to believe that to be more true the second time,” Jen O’Malley Dillon, a Biden White House deputy chief of staff and the president’s 2020 campaign manager, told CNN.
Biden’s aides believe the media is “validating concerns” about the 80-year-old president’s age as well as worries over his conduct as vice president relating to his son Hunter’s foreign business dealings, CNN reported. A variety of recent polls show a vast majority of Americans are concerned about the president’s age and stamina, believing he should not run for reelection in 2024. (RELATED: ‘Treated Like A Toddler’: Biden Complained About Aides’ Response After Gaffe In Ukraine, Book Says)
U.S. President Joe Biden addresses union workers at Sheet Metal Workers Local 19 on September 4, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. During his speech, President Biden talked about his record on job creation and support for labor unions. (Mark Makela/Getty Images)
While the Biden campaign still predicts the president could win reelection, the operatives are aware there is a legitimate chance a Republican could claim the 2024 election, CNN reported. As a result, the campaign plans to make some of its messaging about what would happen to the country if Biden were to lose, according to CNN.
The campaign is aware of the “lack of enthusiasm” surrounding Biden but the operatives remain more focused on getting people out to vote, the outlet reported. Campaign operatives are working to determine which Republicans and independent voters they can target to bring into the Biden camp ahead of the election.
“I don’t need people sprinting to their polling places – as long as they make it,” an aide told the outlet.
“Do their votes count differently?” another asked, according to CNN.
Biden remains the clear frontrunner in his party for the Democratic presidential nomination, according to data from RealClearPolitics.
