Far-left Democrats were once hopeful that President Joe Biden would become a modern-day version of FDR, the 1930s-era progressive darling whose “New Deal” ushered in massive government spending and several legacy entitlement programs including Social Security.
But as the relationship between the party’s socialist faction and Biden frayed over his first year in office, they “are talking about treating him like former President Jimmy Carter instead — and mapping out a Democratic primary challenge in 2024,” Politico reported on Saturday.
To that point, Jeff Weaver, Sen. Bernie Sanders’ former presidential campaign manager, declared to the outlet: “Will there be a progressive challenger? Yes.”
Weaver went on to emphasize that he isn’t advocating for such a challenge. That said, while virtually no one was talking about it a few weeks back, the situation has changed in the wake of moderate Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia tanking Biden’s expensive climate- and social-spending legislation known as “Build Back Better” because he was worried it will fuel already high inflation.
“He’s deeply unpopular. He’s old as s**t. He’s largely been ineffective unless we’re counting judges or whatever the hell inside-baseball scorecard we’re using. And I think he’ll probably get demolished in the midterms,” Corbin Trent, co-founder of the progressive No Excuses PAC and former communications director for Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), told Politico in no uncertain terms.
“People will smell opportunity, and D.C. is filled with people who want to be president,” he added.
Despite his strong words, Politico reported that none of the former leading contenders for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination are likely to take Biden on, and there is little belief that Sanders (I-Vt.) or Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), both of whom have a lot of influence in the current White House, are thinking about a primary challenge to the president.
Also, there are very few inside the Beltway who believe that Ocasio-Cortez would mount a long-shot challenge, either.
Rather, leftists think that there is a chance lesser-known progressives will challenge Biden if he does decide to run again in 2024, including Nina Turner, a former Sanders campaign co-chair, 2020 presidential contender Marianne Williamson, or Joe Sanberg, a multimillionaire and advocate of an $18-an-hour minimum wage.
“Yes, but someone like Nina Turner or Marianne Williamson. Doubt anyone currently elected,” a prominent progressive told the outlet after they were asked if someone on the left would challenge Biden.
As Politico notes: “The fact that any primary challenge at all is now openly being discussed demonstrates how disappointed some progressives are about Biden’s presidency. It’s also a reflection of Biden’s weakness in the polls and his advanced age — the same factors that are driving more traditional and moderate Democrats to talk privately about scenarios if Biden doesn’t run for reelection as promised.”
And it’s not assured that he will: Biden has said he plans to run, especially if former President Donald Trump enters the race and wins the GOP nomination. But Biden’s health continues to be a concern, and others are convinced he is suffering early dementia.
“Something’s SERIOUSLY wrong with Biden – and it’s only going to get WORSE! It’s past the point of embarrassment. He’s lost. He’s confused. He can barely put a coherent sentence together. He MUST have a cognitive exam and release the results!” Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-Texas), a former White House physician, tweeted in July.
Something's SERIOUSLY wrong with Biden – and it's only going to get WORSE! It's past the point of embarrassment. He's lost. He's confused. He can barely put a coherent sentence together. He MUST have a cognitive exam and release the results! pic.twitter.com/Pk5Pq2V5Um
— Ronny Jackson (@RonnyJacksonTX) July 23, 2021
Jon has over 30 years' worth of reporting experience, as well as an author and U.S. Army veteran. He has a BA in political science from Ashford University and an MA in national security studies/intelligence analysis from American Military University.
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.