‘Watch me’ run: Biden confidence grows in his 2024 odds

It’s far from official but if recent statements are any indication, Joe Biden is girding for a 2024 rematch with Donald Trump

It’s far from official but if recent statements are any indication, President Joe Biden is girding for a 2024 showdown with former opponent Donald Trump — a duel for which most Americans have little appetite.

Speaking Wednesday, Mr Biden even went so far as to say it was his “intention to run again”.

The 79-year-old Democrat’s new tone — confident and upbeat — evinces the opportunity he now senses on the horizon.

While the balance of Congress still remains unknown, the Republicans’ much desired “red wave” failed to materialise in Tuesday’s midterm elections, and they did not sweep as many candidates into office as hoped.

Despite Mr Biden’s new optimism, a majority of Americans — 56 per cent according to a YouGov/The Economist poll from early November and even more according to some exit polls — do not want him to run again.

When asked about this by one journalist, a self-assured Mr Biden responded, “Watch me.”

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Joe Biden says it’s his intention to run again in 2024. Picture: Samuel Corum/Getty Images/AFP

While he has said he will hold off on a confirmation until “early next year”, Mr Biden has already laid a strong foundation to appeal to the electorate via reforms he hopes will propel him beyond his current low approval rating of 41 per cent, according to polling aggregator FiveThirtyEight.

Asked what he would change to sway public opinion, Mr Biden responded, “Nothing, because [Americans are] just finding out what we’re doing. The more they know about what we’re doing, the more support there is.”

New highways, faster internet, cheaper insulin — these are the perks which Mr Biden hopes will win over voters.

And he believes that time is on his side too. There is no rush to declare, he feels, even as Mr Trump, 74, repeatedly promotes a “big announcement” next Tuesday.

A majority of Americans also do not want the real estate billionaire to run again — 53 per cent according to the YouGov/The Economist poll.

Mr Biden has often said and certainly continues to believe that he is the person best positioned to beat Mr Trump again.

And according to exit polls he is right.

“Biden’s approval rating, while low, was higher than Trump’s by just about the same margin [as between their 2020 presidential scores],” said political science professor Wendy Schiller of Brown University.

The US President turns 80 later this month. Picture: Mandel Ngan/AFP

Mr Biden has so far not weighed in on other possible opponents, such as rising Republican star Ron DeSantis, the 44-year-old Republican governor of Florida.

Asked whether he would prefer to face Mr DeSantis or Mr Trump, Mr Biden said only, “It’d be fun watching them take on each other.”

Optimism is, after all, the hallmark of Mr Biden’s long career, which has involved two failed bids for the White House.

Despite these political setbacks, Mr Biden never quit believing in his odds, which also seems to be his modus operandi in the face of Father Time, with Mr Biden to turn 80 later this month.

His doctor a year ago said he was healthy — particularly given that Mr Biden’s pace could easily bring a younger man to his knees.

But with thinner hair, a stiffer gait and more numerous verbal hesitations, the President is beginning to look the part of an octogenarian.

Even so, “being the leader of the party, it would be political malpractice for him to announce now that he was not seeking re-election because it would destroy any remaining leverage he has over Congress and in the public arena”, Prof Schiller said.

“If for no other reason than to uphold and protect what he has already accomplished, he has to commit to seeking re-election,” she added.

And at least for the moment, momentum is also on his side.