In the run-up to Joe Biden’s re-election announcement, the trappings of his office were on full display. He spent the weekend at Camp David, had lunch with Vice President Kamala Harris at the White House, and held an event to honor US teachers in the Rose Garden. Against a backdrop of the Marine Band, Biden announced his intention to run for a second term, with the goal of emulating the successes of past presidents like Barack Obama and avoiding the pitfalls of one-termers like Donald Trump. While his age and lackluster approval ratings have generated some doubts about his ability to mount another campaign, Democrats are already rallying around his impressive record of accomplishments, from sweeping economic legislation that generated millions of jobs to his leadership on the foreign policy front. Despite warning signs about his popular appeal, including negative job approval ratings, an overwhelming sense of reluctance about his announcement, and a recent poll that found two-thirds of voters do not want him to run for a second term, many Democrats believe he is well positioned to battle against his Republican opponent in the general election and possibly even Trump in a rematch.
