President Joe Biden has officially announced his bid for re-election in the upcoming 2024 election, setting the stage for a highly anticipated rematch with former President Donald Trump.[0] Biden released a video this week that included Vice President Kamala Harris, signaling his intention to run again. This announcement comes after Trump announced his own campaign for 2024 back in November of 2022, almost two years before voters will go to the polls in the general election.
However, Biden’s campaign may be facing some challenges as Trump is currently leading in GOP Primary polls, with a majority in the FiveThirtyEight polling average. Biden’s attempt to pose as a political Robin Hood, taking money from the rich and giving it to the poor, may only help him with the votes he already has while motivating others to vote against him.[0] This week has been a sharp downturn for the President.
In the 2016 election, Trump won 49% of the vote in Florida, narrowly beating Democrat Hillary Clinton.[1] In the 2020 election, Trump won 51.2% of the vote in Florida, a larger margin of victory over Biden.[1] This historic Republican win in Florida, with more Republicans winning elections up and down ballots than at any other point in Florida’s history, confirmed that Florida had shifted from a swing state to a red state.[2] More recently, voter registration changes have shown Republicans growing ranks in Florida while Florida’s Democrats continue to hemorrhage voters.[2] It seems that President Biden’s actions are not contributing to the success of Democrats in Florida.[2]
This shift in Florida’s political landscape may result in fewer resources being invested in the state by national Democrats in the upcoming election cycle.[1] This decision may hurt down-ballot contests for Congress, the state Legislature, and local positions.[3] However, Arizona remains a crucial state for both presidential and senate races, where the outcome could go either way.
South Carolina is also expected to play an important role in the 2024 election, with former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley running on the Republican side, and current South Carolina Senator Tim Scott announcing his 2024 presidential exploratory committee. These developments are likely to make South Carolina a key battleground in the GOP primary.
In conclusion, Biden’s official announcement for re-election sets the stage for an intense and closely watched election cycle. However, his campaign is likely to face significant challenges, including a strong Republican presence in Florida and a highly contested GOP primary in South Carolina. The outcome of these races will have a significant impact on the future of American politics.
0. “Palmetto Political Stock Index 4/21/2023” FITSNews, 22 Apr. 2023, https://www.fitsnews.com/2023/04/21/palmetto-political-stock-index-4-21-2023/
1. “Florida was the most prized swing state for decades. That won’t be true in 2024.” Orlando Sentinel, 30 Apr. 2023, https://www.orlandosentinel.com/politics/fl-ne-florida-presidential-battleground-2024-20230430-bjajbbjc6zbpnfhbh4qi5yx3oi-story.html
2. “How Florida Feels About President Biden as He Begins His Re-Election Bid” 1290 WJNO, 27 Apr. 2023, https://wjno.iheart.com/content/2023-04-27-how-florida-feels-about-president-biden-as-he-begins-his-re-election-bid/
3. “Winner and Loser of the Week in Florida politics — Week of 4.23.23” Florida Politics, 30 Apr. 2023, https://floridapolitics.com/archives/607909-winner-and-loser-of-the-week-in-florida-politics-week-of-4-23-23
