{"id":2384733,"date":"2024-12-30T14:11:01","date_gmt":"2024-12-30T19:11:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-has-second-thoughts-about-dropping-out-but-would-not-have-won-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-12-30T14:11:57","modified_gmt":"2024-12-30T19:11:57","slug":"biden-has-second-thoughts-about-dropping-out-but-would-not-have-won-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-has-second-thoughts-about-dropping-out-but-would-not-have-won-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Biden has second thoughts about dropping out but would not have won &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">30<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fbiden-has-second-thoughts-about-dropping-out-but-would-not-have-won-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2384733&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article discusses President \u200dJoe BidenS regret about stepping aside\u2063 from the Democratic ticket for\u2062 the 2024 presidential\u200b election, \u2064a decision\u2064 influenced by party leaders\u200c to\u200b support Vice President Kamala Harris instead. following Harris&#8217;s loss\u200d to Donald Trump, Biden is said to believe he\u2062 could have won against Trump himself,\u2063 considering his historical\u2062 win against him \u2062in 2020. The \u2064<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/new-york-city-rocked-by-deadly-stabbing-spree-suspect-taken-into-custody\/\" title=\"New York City Rocked by Deadly Stabbing Spree - Suspect Taken Into Custody\">article\u2063 highlights concerns<\/a> among Biden&#8217;s \u200baides regarding Harris&#8217;s electability, especially after her poor debate performance and failure to secure battleground \u200dstates. \u2064Biden, who has long been politically active, reportedly feels that\u200c he would have had greater support from union members and would not have relied so \u2064heavily on celebrity endorsements as \u2062Harris did. Despite his \u2062regret, Biden\u200d has not placed blame on Harris publicly and quickly endorsed her after his withdrawal from the race. The piece illustrates the\u200c complexities of party dynamics, candidate electability, and the challenges both biden and Harris faced \u200din their \u200drespective campaigns.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Biden has second thoughts about dropping out but would not have won second term<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1922717\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>When Vice President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/kamala-harris\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Kamala Harris<\/a> lost the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/2024-elections\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">2024 presidential election<\/a>, it was inevitable that President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/joe-biden\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Joe Biden<\/a> would regret his decision to step down from the top of the Democratic ticket.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Biden associates now say that the outgoing president regrets dropping out of the race and believes he could have beaten President-elect <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Donald Trump<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Unless the 22nd Amendment is soon repealed, one thing Biden will always be able to say is that he is the only politician who has ever beaten Trump in a national election. While the Democratic sample size is small, Trump has defeated upwards of two dozen Republicans, including some of the party&rsquo;s top political talent.<\/p>\n<p>Both times Biden was dissuaded by Democratic leaders from seeking the presidency, deferring to Hillary Clinton in 2016 and then passing the baton to Harris this year, Trump won the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/white-house\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">White House<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3246847\/my-word-as-biden-joe-damages-public-trust-hunter-pardon\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"><strong>&lsquo;MY WORD AS A BIDEN&rsquo;: JOE DAMAGES PUBLIC TRUST WITH FLIP-FLOP HUNTER PARDON<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>It is therefore not surprising that Biden, who has been actively campaigning for president since at least 1987 before finally winning the office in 2020, would <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mediaite.com\/news\/biden-regrets-stepping-aside-for-kamala-harris-because-he-could-have-defeated-trump-allies-say\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">have second thoughts<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Biden and some of his aides still believe he should have stayed in the race, despite the rocky debate performance and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/poll-republicans-like-their-governors-democrats-dont\/\" title=\"Poll: Republicans Like Their Governors. Democrats Don\u2019t.\">low poll numbers<\/a> that prompted Democrats to pressure him to drop out,&rdquo; the <em>Washington Post <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/politics\/2024\/12\/28\/bidens-lonely-battle-to-sell-american-democracy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">reported<\/a>. &ldquo;Biden and these aides have told people in recent days that he could have defeated Trump, according to people familiar with their comments, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hunter-bidens-supporters-go-on-the-offensive\/\" title=\"Hunter Biden\u2019s Supporters Go on  the Offensive\">describe private conversations<\/a>. Aides say the president has been careful not to place blame on Harris or her campaign.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Concerns about Harris&rsquo;s electability factored into the weeks of limbo between Biden&rsquo;s disastrous June 27 debate performance and his July 21 withdrawal from the race. Biden nevertheless immediately threw his support behind his vice president, thwarting Democratic detractors who had hoped for a more competitive process to replace him as the nominee. The primaries were already over and Biden had won nearly all of them.<\/p>\n<p>Biden would likely have outperformed Harris among <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/despite-president-joe-bidens-repeated-boasts-union-membership-continues-to-fall\/\" title=\"Union membership keeps declining, despite President Biden&#039;s claims.\">private sector union members<\/a>. Both the Teamsters and the International Association of Firefighters declined to endorse a presidential candidate this year. Polls of the rank and file showed they would have backed Biden but preferred Trump to Harris.<\/p>\n<p>Teamsters officials <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2024\/12\/24\/us-news\/kamala-harris-told-teamsters-president-sean-obrien-shed-win-election-with-or-without-you\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">later complained<\/a> that Harris, who would go on to lose all seven battleground states, was arrogant in her dealings with them.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;And her declaration of the way out was, &lsquo;I&rsquo;m going to win with you or without you,&rsquo;&rsquo; Teamers President Sean O&rsquo;Brien told Tucker Carlson. O&rsquo;Brien said he called former Labor Secretary Marty Walsh, now head of the NHL Players&rsquo; Association, and asked, &ldquo;Excuse my French. Who does this f***ing lady think she is?&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>It is also likely that Biden would have been less reliant on celebrity endorsements than Harris was, with the question of whether Beyonce would perform at one of the vice president&rsquo;s events becoming a recurring disappointment of her campaign.<\/p>\n<p>At the same time, Biden would have had an even bigger problem turning out younger and nonwhite voters than Harris did. As far back as 2022, a <em>New York Times<\/em>\/Siena College poll <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2022\/07\/11\/us\/politics\/biden-approval-polling-2024.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">found<\/a> that 94% of Democrats under the age of 30 preferred a different nominee.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m just going to come out and say it: I want younger blood,&rdquo; a 38-year-old preschool teacher in northern Michigan told the outlet. &ldquo;I am so tired of all old people running our country. I don&rsquo;t want someone knocking on death&rsquo;s door.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Biden would have dealt with the same splits over <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/gaza\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Gaza<\/a> that helped cost Harris Michigan and contributed to why she did not choose Gov. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/josh-shapiro\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Josh Shapiro<\/a> (D-PA) as her running mate. He might have received a lower percentage of the black and Hispanic vote than Harris did.<\/p>\n<p>The Biden campaign would have been run by most of the same people who oversaw Harris&rsquo;s, sans some old <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/barack-obama\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Barack Obama<\/a> hands. The Harris campaign remained headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, because it was largely inherited from Biden. The president would have leaned even more heavily into the democracy protection themes that proved ineffective and would probably have remained more <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/bidenomics\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">defensive about the economy<\/a>, which exit polls showed was the top issue.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Then we find out when the Biden campaign becomes the Harris campaign, that the Biden campaign&rsquo;s own internal polling, at the time when they were telling us he was the strongest candidate, showed that Donald Trump was going to win 400 electoral votes,&rdquo; <em>Pod Save America<\/em> host and Obama alumnus Jon Favreau said in November.<\/p>\n<p>While Biden was behind by just 3.1 points nationally in the <em>RealClearPolitics <\/em>polling average when he dropped out, some public and private polls showed Trump&rsquo;s lead more than twice that.<\/p>\n<p>The final results in Virginia, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Mexico, and New Jersey were all close enough with Harris as the nominee to suggest Biden could have lost those states. Biden was also less competitive in the Sun Belt states and could have lost Arizona or Nevada by a big enough margin to change the outcome of their Senate races.<\/p>\n<p>Republicans won control of the Senate with 53 seats, but somewhat bigger Trump coattails could have flipped seats in Michigan and Wisconsin as well.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"><strong><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>As Trump enters his second term, there will be a protracted debate over whether an underestimated Biden should have continued his campaign or his decision to run again approaching his 82nd birthday doomed any Democrat who would eventually replace him, especially Harris, who had trouble distancing herself from him. <\/p>\n<p>But a lot of the Biden diehards will be people from his inner circle, coloring his legacy going forward.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1922717\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1922717\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Biden regrets stepping down but likely wouldn&#8217;t have won<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2659,"featured_media":2384734,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Biden-world-stage.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[32431,3620,33017,33144,32076],"class_list":["post-2384733","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-2024-election","tag-biden","tag-political-analysis","tag-presidential-candidates","tag-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Biden-world-stage.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2384733","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2659"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2384733"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2384733\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2384737,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2384733\/revisions\/2384737"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2384734"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2384733"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2384733"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2384733"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}