Samuel Case, FISM News
Yet another Democrat is casting doubts on President Joe Biden’s candidacy in 2024, despite Biden’s insistence that he will run for reelection amidst dismal poll numbers and questions of his cognitive fitness.
Appearing on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Senator Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., told host Dana Bash that he will support Biden if he runs again while dodging a question about the quality of Biden’s candidacy.
"Do you think President Biden is the best candidate in 2024?"
Connecticut Democrat Sen. Richard Blumenthal: ……………… pic.twitter.com/DnEOGoSjIa
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) August 7, 2022
“Do you think President Biden is the best candidate in 2024?” moderator Dana Bash asked Blumenthal.
“I’m gonna be very blunt and very honest with you. My focus is totally on this November because I am running for reelection,” he replied. “But also, I think this November’s gonna determine how successful President Biden is in the next two years and how strong he would be as a candidate.”
Bash called Blumenthal’s response a “non-answer,” and said it will “likely be perceived as an intentional dodge.”
Blumenthal later clarified his comments saying he “will support President Biden.” Bash interjected, “Do you want him to run?”
“If he decides he wants to run and I think his decision will be determined by how November ends for the Democratic Party and for senators like myself who are running for reelection,” Blumenthal responded, reiterating his earlier comment.
Blumenthal is not the first Democrat to be less than enthusiastic about a Biden reelection campaign.
Last week Senator Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., refused to tell MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell whether or not he would support Biden if he runs in 2024. “I’m not gonna talk about it,” Manchin said repeatedly.
Late last month, Representative Dean Phillips, D-Minn., told a local radio station that “I think the country would be well-served by a new generation of compelling, well-prepared, dynamic Democrats who step up.” He later added, “I think it’s time for a generational change. And I think most of my colleagues agree with that.”
The wavering support for Biden among elected Democrats comes as 75% of Democrat voters say they want a different candidate in 2024, according to CNN.
Regardless of swirling doubt and opposition, Biden has repeatedly said that he plans to be the Democratic candidate for president in 2024.
“So let me just say this and the president has been asked this question multiple times. So have I. The president intends to run in 2024,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said last month. “That is something that he’s, again, has said multiple times.”