President Joe Biden is presently seeking re-election. At this point, only Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Marianne Williamson from the Democratic party have declared their candidacy. The limited presence of contenders has caused dissatisfaction among some within the president’s party.
Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN) made an appearance on CBS News’ “Face the Nation” on August 6. In the course of the interview, he urged additional Democrats to enter the primary race against Biden. Phillips conveyed that fellow party members have expressed their desire for a contest rather than an uncontested nomination. He further mentioned that a survey conducted by The New York Times has revealed a prevailing inclination among Democrats for a broader range of candidate options.
While it’s customary for an incumbent within a party to encounter minimal opponents leading up to a primary, Biden’s situation is distinct due to his significant unpopularity among the general public. His party members have been expressing their desire for an alternative presidential candidate for over a year now.
During July of 2022, The New York Times released a report indicating that 64% of Democrats were in favor of a distinct candidate. Concurrently, a CNN Poll conducted in the same month revealed that 75% of individuals affiliated with the president’s party were inclined to endorse an alternative nominee for the 2024 election.
Before Biden officially declared his intention to run for re-election in April, an Associated Press/NORC survey indicated that merely 26% of the American populace wished for his re-election bid. As of July 2023, data from the Times/Siena Poll suggests that 50% of Democrats still hold the desire for an alternate candidate.
Despite the evident indicators that a majority of Americans were not in favor of the president’s re-election bid, he proceeded with his announcement. Phillips is advocating for a shift in this stance. During his discussion with CBS News, he emphasized that if the Democratic Party disregards the appeals for alternative candidates, the outcomes could be quite dire. Phillips stressed that he is calling upon Democrats possessing favorable qualities—such as a strong position, adequate preparation, commendable character, and competence—to step forward as potential contenders.
He expressed his confidence that these suitable Democratic candidates are aware of their qualifications and will actively engage in the race. Additionally, Phillips conveyed that fostering competition is a crucial necessity for the nation.
