Biden Expresses Uncertainty on Running in 2024 Without Trump as Opponent
President Biden expresses uncertainty about running for re-election in 2024 if Donald Trump isn't a candidate, providing a candid insight into his rationale
President Joe Biden admitted to Democratic donors that he might not be seeking another term if Donald Trump wasn't running for the White House. This candid assessment sheds light on his motivation for running for reelection and the importance of preventing Trump from winning again.
The comment, delivered at a private fundraiser near Boston, provided a clear explanation for Biden's decision to seek reelection. It indicated that had Trump not run for office again, Biden may not have pursued a second term. Biden sees himself as the primary means of safeguarding the country from another Trump administration and has portrayed the upcoming election as a crucial defense of Democracy.
As Biden kicked off a series of fundraising events on Tuesday, the comment was made in anticipation of a costly reelection campaign. The President is set to attend seven events by Monday, with additional fundraisers planned for later in the month. With some anticipating a billion-dollar campaign, Democratic officials are focusing on selling Biden's reelection to a public that currently seems hesitant.
Biden confronted Trump head-on during the first of those fundraisers, cautioning that his predecessor is "clearly stating his intentions. He's not trying to hide anything."
"Trump isn't even being secretive about it. He's clearly stating his intentions. He's not trying to hide anything," Biden informed donors, as reported by journalists present at the event.
Biden mentioned Trump's recent focus on ending the Affordable Care Act and the former president's "vermin" comment. Trump had stated in a speech in New Hampshire last month: "We will root out the communists, Marxists, fascists, and the radical left thugs that live like vermin within our country," and also warned that "the real threat is not from the radical right. The real threat is from the radical left, and it's growing every day."
The president pointed out that Trump did not attend his inauguration, saying, "I can't say I was disappointed, but he didn't even show up." This comment reportedly elicited laughter from the audience.
Renowned singer-songwriter James Taylor is set to be the main act at a future event in Boston's theater district. Tickets for "You've Got a Friend in Joe" ranged from $50 to $7,500. Additionally, two other events in the vicinity are expected to generate millions more for Biden's campaign funds.
During the first fundraiser, Biden addressed the recent breakdown of hostage negotiations between Israel and Hamas and urged strong condemnation of what he referred to as "the sexual violence of Hamas terrorists."
"Hamas' refusal to release the rest of the young women is what led to the breakdown of the deal and the resumption of fighting. All those still held captive by Hamas must be returned to their families immediately. We will not back down," he declared.
The president is making a final push for funds before the end-of-month deadline for reporting. He will be in Los Angeles this weekend for a pair of Hollywood fundraisers, one of which will feature star power from Stephen Spielberg, Shonda Rhimes, and Rob Reiner, and will be hosted by celebrity decorator Michael Smith and his husband James Costos, a former US ambassador to Spain.
During the last quarter, Biden and the Democrats raised $71 million for his reelection campaign. Although this figure exceeded that of his potential Republican rivals, it fell behind the amount raised by Presidents Donald Trump and Barack Obama at this stage in their own reelection campaigns. According to campaign officials, the pace of fundraising has since picked up, with November being the biggest month for grassroots donations since Biden announced his bid for reelection in the spring.
The campaign has allocated funds for television ads, spending $25 million to test messaging and build a case for the president's reelection. Some ads have been aired during important NFL games. On the other hand, Bidens reelection campaign has set a record for ad spending by an incumbent, spending over $45 million on pro-Biden advertising since the beginning of 2023.
Various groups supporting Bidens reelection have made a record investment in early advertising. Bidens own campaign has spent approximately $11.3 million, while an allied committee with the DNC has spent around $5.4 million. A joint fundraising committee has also contributed approximately $8.2 million, and an allied super PAC has invested roughly $19.8 million. In addition, other smaller groups have collectively contributed over a million dollars.
The total investment in early advertising for Bidens reelection has surpassed $45 million and continues to climb. This amount exceeds the $36.5 million spent by Trump and his allies on advertising in 2019, as well as the $7.3 million spent by Obamas network in 2011.
Bidens reelection campaign has made significant early investments in targeting key media markets in familiar battleground states including Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona, Georgia, and Nevada.
Four specific media markets - Atlanta, Philadelphia, Phoenix, and Detroit - have received a substantial amount of pro-Biden ad dollars. In Atlanta, the top market, Bidens network has spent approximately $5.3 million, followed by about $5.1 million in Philadelphia, $4.2 million in Phoenix, and nearly $4 million in Detroit.
The Biden campaign has spent over $1 million in Las Vegas ($2.9 million), Milwaukee ($2.5 million), and Pittsburgh ($1.9 million), making them the other top markets where Bidens operation has allocated significant funds. In addition, the campaign has made health care a key focus of its messaging, airing a 60-second spot in eight different states, including the above-mentioned battlegrounds and North Carolina. The spot features a former pediatric nurse criticizing the Trump administrations health care policies.
The Biden campaign and DNC are currently airing an ad in battleground states, such as Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Nevada, that showcases the administration's efforts to reduce prescription drug costs, aligning with their focus. Additionally, the campaign has expanded its staffing in key early voting states, with the recent appointment of a state director in South Carolina, which will serve as an important indicator of Biden's support among black voters.
To this point, however, the campaign has run a relatively bare bones operation - which officials say is intentional as they look to preserve resources for next year.
