The name Donald Trump usually appears in the first minutes of Joe Biden's speeches about this year's elections. Preventing the Republican from returning to power became the central objective of his re-election campaign, more than any other proposal for the country. Biden's message is clear: preventing a second Trump term is the only way to preserve democracy in the United States.
“If Trump wasn’t running, I don’t know if I would be running,” the president even told reporters at an event with campaign donors in early December. The speech generated enormous repercussion and, hours later, when asked if he would give up his candidacy if the Republican also withdrew his, Biden replied no.
Today, less than half of the American population approves of Joe Biden's government. The December Reuters/Ipsos poll showed an approval rating of just 40% – very close to the worst result of his term, in mid-2022, when the approval level was just 36%.
Biden's Achilles heel was the economy: although the situation is improving, the United States recorded record inflation, and Americans still feel the effects of rising prices.
Foreign policy situations, such as the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan at the beginning of the mandate and, more recently, the role in the Middle East war made the situation even worse.
The president has lost popularity among his own electorate, who expected firmer action to protect civilians in the midst of war.
The ability to dialogue with different points of view and multilateralism were essential for Biden to become the Democrats' choice to overcome Trump's extremism at the polls in 2020.
Four years later, this ability is questioned, as he has faced problems with a divided Congress; the Democrat was unable to even approve a long-term budget for the United States.
In the last elections, many saw Biden as a one-term president, a transitional leader, especially given his age. If he is re-elected, he will be 86 years old at the end of his second term.
There was an expectation that the vice-president, Kamala Harris, could be the party's choice for the 2024 race – but Harris' lack of protagonism, which disappointed so many, soon made it clear that this would not be the path.
The lack of strong names in politics could cause Biden and Trump to face each other at the polls once again. Republicans will still decide who will be the candidate in the primary elections, within the party, but the former president is the big favorite, despite the 91 criminal charges he faces in several cases in court.
Therefore, Biden's greatest hope is to position himself as the only defender of democracy in the dispute, reminding voters of events such as the invasion of the Capitol to argue that, with Trump's return, the scenario in the United States and the world can be much worse.
Source: CNN Brasil
Bruce Belcher is a seasoned author with over 5 years of experience in world news. He writes for online news websites and provides in-depth analysis on the world stock market. Bruce is known for his insightful perspectives and commitment to keeping the public informed.
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