Democrats Would Prefer a Younger Nominee than Joe Biden in 2024 – Confidence among Democrats in President Joe Biden is diminishing, and a majority want him to step aside in 2024 to allow a younger successor to take on the Republicans.
A new survey published by The New York Times/Siena College found little enthusiasm among party voters for the president, with Democrats in favor of nominating another candidate by five percentage points (50-45).
President Biden stepping aside for his vice president Kamala Harris was hardly met with universal acclaim, but she was a preferred option by six percentage points among the 296 respondents.
26% of Democrats said they would feel “enthusiastic” about a Harris campaign in 2024 compared to just 20% who felt the same about the incumbent nominee.
However, while they may not be over-the-moon about Biden’s 2024 bid, Democrats are at least “satisfied” with the President running again, leading his second in command by ten percentage points (51-41).
Joe Biden remains the frontrunner
The good news for the President is that he remains the favorite among Democrats for next year’s campaign to retain the White House.
When asked who Democrats would vote for in the primaries, Biden came out on top with support from 64% of respondents.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Marianne Williamson received 13% and 10% of the vote respectively in comparison.
While more Democrats would prefer a younger candidate than President Biden, it’s clear that, without a serious contender, voters are keen for Biden to remain as the party’s nominee for 2024.
Biden’s battles
Of the 141 party voters who would prefer to see a different candidate, two-fifths said Biden’s age was the key reason in their desire for another candidate.
The President will turn 82 within weeks of November 5, 2024’s presidential election, with a successful campaign seeing him end his second term in office at the age of 86.
Such a scenario would see Biden break his own record of becoming the oldest nominee to win a presidential election.
The remaining 60% of Democrats who would prefer to see another candidate were somewhat split on their reasons.
20% of all primary voters cited his job performance as president, while 14% simply preferred to see someone new.
Views on domestic issues (6%), mental acuity (5%) and his ability to win an election (4%) were other notable concerns among Democrats.
Further results from the poll, taken before Tuesday’s indictment announcement, indicate the Democratic nominee will take on former president Donald Trump in next year’s election.
For Biden, this could be troubling news. During much of the 2020 campaign, Biden held a relatively comfortable lead in the polls, often just below a ten-point difference.
However, the latest figures show a much closer battle, with Trump being the preferred candidate on a number of occasions in an otherwise neck and neck fight.
For the President, 2024 could be a long, challenging year.
Shay Bottomley is a British journalist based in Canada. He has written for the Western Standard, Maidenhead Advertiser, Slough Express, Windsor Express, Berkshire Live and Southend Echo, and has covered notable events including the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
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