Will Donald Trump and Joe Biden really go to war for the White House in 2024? Here is what needs to happen:
The Joe Biden – Trump matchup in 2024 for the White House remains a distinct possibility.
Let’s consider the likelihood that such a matchup actually happens – and what that matchup might look like when it does.
(Subscribe to Our YouTube Channel Here. 19FortyFive publishes new videos every day.)
Here Comes Joe Biden
First, to enable a Joe Biden – Trump rematch, Joe Biden will need to run for president.
Biden said recently that he is going to take the holidays to discuss options with his family before announcing a decision in early 2023.
My best guess is that Biden will run for president again.
Biden has been working toward the presidency his entire life (50 years in Washington); now that he has it, it seems unlikely he’d walk away.
And Joe Biden was recently validated – with the Democrats’ overperformance during the midterms.
Biden likely feels like he has the wind at his back.
Plus, the Democrats have a weak bench behind Biden.
Who would run in Biden’s place if he withdrew? So, despite being the oldest president ever, and despite his low popularity rating, expect Biden to confirm his 2024 run soon.
Here Comes Donald Trump
If Joe Biden runs, he’ll earn the DNC’s nomination uncontested. That means Trump will need to earn the GOP nomination so set up a rematch of the 2020 general election. No guarantees there. Trump had a lock on the GOP for the better portion of a decade. He was the kingmaker and career breaker.
He ruled with an iron fist. Times are changing, however. Trump’s stock is nosediving, and conservative peers are beginning to posture themselves to make a run for the ticket.
Ron DeSantis, Mike Pence, Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, Nikki Haley, Mike Pompeo – they’ve all indicated a willingness to contest Trump for the nomination.
Don’t count Trump out, however. He’s uniquely resilient. The lawsuits, investigations, election losses, and scandals don’t seem to faze Trump – they may even energize his MAGA base. Trump will be a viable candidate, despite the baggage.
If Biden runs, and if Trump secures the GOP nomination, then we’ll have our 2020 rematch.
Forecasting Biden v. Trump 2024, two years out, is something of a shot in the dark. But we can consult recent history for guidance. And fortunately, we even have an analog to consider: the 2020 election. Biden and Trump have only faced off once before, so we only have one reference point. Biden won the contest, securing 306 electoral votes (and over 81 million votes to Trump’s 232 electoral votes (and 74 million votes).
Biden won the race by flipping Arizona, Wisconsin, Michigan, Georgia, and Pennsylvania from red to blue. The states Biden flipped, the battleground states, were absolutely crucial to Biden’s victory. And just recently, the midterms suggested that Democrats are still strong in the Biden-flipped battleground states; Democrats won senate races in Arizona, Georgia, and Pennsylvania – where in all three states, Trump endorsees were embarrassed.
Accordingly, right now, Biden should maintain an edge over Trump in a general election.
But Trump will need to earn the opportunity to even face Biden. It’s entirely possible, but the road will be long and adverse.
Harrison Kass is the Senior Editor at 19FortyFive. An attorney, pilot, guitarist, and minor pro hockey player, he joined the US Air Force as a Pilot Trainee but was medically discharged. Harrison holds a BA from Lake Forest College, a JD from the University of Oregon, and an MA from New York University. He lives in Oregon and listens to Dokken.
