Biden’s Recent “Wins” Too Little to Late to Turnaround Midterms

Admittedly President Joe Biden has stitched together a number of victories in the last few weeks. And his approval ratings have seen a slight uptick for the first time since the beginning of his presidency. But how much will any of this shift the tide of the anticipated “red wave” come this November? Or, more importantly, seal Biden as the front runner for the Democratic party for 2024.  

Not much, according to the experts. 

Most pundits on the right believe that all this may have little impact on Biden’s attempt to rally his party behind him in seeking a second term. The media narrative against him – that he’s too old, too slow, and that most Democrats want a younger candidate – could be too powerful to alter, baked into the midterm cake.

Beyond what impact it may or may not have on improving the Dems chances this November, members of his own party would rather see his recent spate of accomplishes as him being able to take a well-earned bow and retire on top, handing the reigns of leadership over to a new, younger crop of leaders. 

Despite having a stronger slate of legislative accomplishments that he can now point to than any president in decades, the fact of the matter is that Biden will be 82 at the next inauguration, and many of his voters, as well as Democratic lawmakers, seem ready to give him a gold watch and a hearty sendoff.

In the nearer term, most GOP strategists say that his recent wins are not going to resonate with the majority of Americans who are still in the grip of the highest inflation in decades, and while Biden has even made some progress on that front, the conventional wisdom remains that inflation will still drive a sweeping Republican victory in November. 

Some liberal Democrats can hardly hide their dissatisfaction with Biden. In the case of two veteran House members running against each other in a New York district, Jerry Nadler said it’s too early to talk about 2024, and Carolyn Maloney said she doesn’t think Biden’s running and then later walked back that comment saying she’ll back him if he does but still doesn’t think he will – or should. That is hardly the mark of a strong incumbent.

Maybe this gives Biden a more solid platform to sell himself as worthy of four more years. But for now, there’s a profound disconnect between Biden and his voters on whether the man who first ran for president in 1987 should make one last run.

NY Times reporter Maureen Dowd recently used her column to appeal to Biden’s sense of history, penning, “He could leave on a high, knowing that he has delivered on his promises for progress and restored decency to the White House.”