Philadelphia: President Joe Biden He was greeted with chants of “four more years” at a Democratic Party convention on Friday, as a Philadelphia crowd voiced strong support for his as-yet-unannounced re-election bid.
“I ask you one simple question: are you with me?” the octogenarian leader asked the hotel auditorium, which responded with cheers, with many attendees waving “Go Joe” placards.
Gathered for two days in historic Philadelphia, members of the Democratic National Committee are working to lay the groundwork for a successful 2024 campaign, with Biden’s name now widely expected to be on the ballot.
US Senator Chris Coons, a longtime ally of Biden, told AFP he expected a formal announcement “in a few months”.
Ahead of the president’s keynote address, the chairman of the Democratic Party of Minnesota called for a panel discussion to prepare to vote for Biden.
“All of you have to be (Biden’s) … evangelist over the next two years,” he said.
“There is no president who has done more in the last two years,” he said, pointing to a once-in-a-generation package Biden signed into law to rebuild America’s crumbling infrastructure, and federal His efforts to promote labor.
Firing out traveling preachers to all four corners of America, he told the audience: “We’ve got to get out there … sell it to the American people.”
It may be the Republicans who have the elephant as their official symbol, but whenever the Democrats discuss Biden in 2024 there is a giant pachyderm in the room.
The 46th president was born near the end of Abraham Lincoln’s term, not the beginning of his own.
Already the oldest president in US history, he will be 86 when it comes time to hand over the keys to the Oval Office, assuming he wins re-election and stays healthy.
Many of his critics think it’s out-of-date, especially after the former senator and vice president promised to make his presidency a “bridge” to the younger generation in 2020.
Biden’s Republican rival in the race for the White House could be an easy talk, says Martin, adding, “I listen from time to time, but not as much as you might think.”
Like Martin, many Democrats are brushing off concerns over Biden’s advanced years to rally their side in what is expected to be an imminent announcement that he will fight for another four years.
Even members of the party’s progressive wing, initially skeptical of the president’s social and climate agenda, have now fallen into line.
“I will not discriminate against anyone because they are a certain age if they are pushing an agenda that works,” Pennsylvania state representative Malcolm Kenyatta told AFP.
In Philadelphia, the historic cradle of American democracy, opposition to Biden’s alleged candidacy came largely from outside the tent.
In Friday’s icy wind, a truck displaying a blunt but pointed slogan — “Don’t run, Joe” — circled around the convention hall.
“He’s a really weak candidate going into 2024,” said Sam Rosenthal, the dissident behind the stunt, whose group is not affiliated with the Democratic Party.
Rosenthal told AFP that the controversy over Biden’s retention of classified documents and his insufficiently progressive politics have made him a “non-viable” option for the Democratic nomination.
These objections may be shared by Democrats elsewhere, but they were falling on deaf ears in the “City of Brotherly Love”.
Biden, who faced about 15 rivals in the party’s 2020 primary, is set to run unopposed if he decides to seek an extension.
What will remain a mystery for next year or so is the identity of his potential Republican opponent. Donald Trump Staying the course as leader of his party is far from certain.
“I do believe we are witnessing some of the last gasps of the Republican Party,” said Democratic Chairman Jaime Harrison confidently.
“Take your medicine, take your vitamins and just get ready.”
“I ask you one simple question: are you with me?” the octogenarian leader asked the hotel auditorium, which responded with cheers, with many attendees waving “Go Joe” placards.
Gathered for two days in historic Philadelphia, members of the Democratic National Committee are working to lay the groundwork for a successful 2024 campaign, with Biden’s name now widely expected to be on the ballot.
US Senator Chris Coons, a longtime ally of Biden, told AFP he expected a formal announcement “in a few months”.
Ahead of the president’s keynote address, the chairman of the Democratic Party of Minnesota called for a panel discussion to prepare to vote for Biden.
“All of you have to be (Biden’s) … evangelist over the next two years,” he said.
“There is no president who has done more in the last two years,” he said, pointing to a once-in-a-generation package Biden signed into law to rebuild America’s crumbling infrastructure, and federal His efforts to promote labor.
Firing out traveling preachers to all four corners of America, he told the audience: “We’ve got to get out there … sell it to the American people.”
It may be the Republicans who have the elephant as their official symbol, but whenever the Democrats discuss Biden in 2024 there is a giant pachyderm in the room.
The 46th president was born near the end of Abraham Lincoln’s term, not the beginning of his own.
Already the oldest president in US history, he will be 86 when it comes time to hand over the keys to the Oval Office, assuming he wins re-election and stays healthy.
Many of his critics think it’s out-of-date, especially after the former senator and vice president promised to make his presidency a “bridge” to the younger generation in 2020.
Biden’s Republican rival in the race for the White House could be an easy talk, says Martin, adding, “I listen from time to time, but not as much as you might think.”
Like Martin, many Democrats are brushing off concerns over Biden’s advanced years to rally their side in what is expected to be an imminent announcement that he will fight for another four years.
Even members of the party’s progressive wing, initially skeptical of the president’s social and climate agenda, have now fallen into line.
“I will not discriminate against anyone because they are a certain age if they are pushing an agenda that works,” Pennsylvania state representative Malcolm Kenyatta told AFP.
In Philadelphia, the historic cradle of American democracy, opposition to Biden’s alleged candidacy came largely from outside the tent.
In Friday’s icy wind, a truck displaying a blunt but pointed slogan — “Don’t run, Joe” — circled around the convention hall.
“He’s a really weak candidate going into 2024,” said Sam Rosenthal, the dissident behind the stunt, whose group is not affiliated with the Democratic Party.
Rosenthal told AFP that the controversy over Biden’s retention of classified documents and his insufficiently progressive politics have made him a “non-viable” option for the Democratic nomination.
These objections may be shared by Democrats elsewhere, but they were falling on deaf ears in the “City of Brotherly Love”.
Biden, who faced about 15 rivals in the party’s 2020 primary, is set to run unopposed if he decides to seek an extension.
What will remain a mystery for next year or so is the identity of his potential Republican opponent. Donald Trump Staying the course as leader of his party is far from certain.
“I do believe we are witnessing some of the last gasps of the Republican Party,” said Democratic Chairman Jaime Harrison confidently.
“Take your medicine, take your vitamins and just get ready.”