Eden Havel | Head editor
February 23, 2023
Once again, Trump and Biden face one another from opposite ends of the political spectrum with a common goal: the 2024 presidency. While both candidates face similar controversies, regarding their handling of classified documents (the ongoing investigation of Trump’s Mar-A-Lago estate and Biden’s handling of them during his time as Vice President). And while Biden has stated clear intentions of running again, he still has not announced a campaign.
There are many concerns regarding the re-running of the current president that goes beyond his age alone. Barack Obama was the most recent Democratic president in office, whose approval ratings reached a high of 68%. Biden’s approval ratings have not surpassed 47% since March 2022, and have staggered since. This has raised the question: will Biden run again, and if not, who will lead the democratic party in the 2024 election?
Should Biden run again for office, he will be closer to 90 than 80 by the end of his second term. And while many Democrats say that his performance in office has been relatively commendable, most argue that his time as president should come to an end.
Another Democratic candidate that many turn their heads towards is current Vice President Kamala Harris. While she seems to be an obvious choice as the leader of the Democratic party, her approval ratings lie around 39%, making it unlikely that there is much she can do to boost her ratings. Stacey Abrams could be another potential leader, and although she lost the run for Georgia governor in both 2018 and 2022, many credits her for turning the state blue in the first place. Other potential Democratic candidates include Pete Buttigieg, Amy Klobuchar, Gavin Newsom, Elizabeth Warren, and Gretchen Whitmer.
Meanwhile, while many view Trump as the leading republican candidate, his current approval ratings have dropped to an all-time low since 2016. While facing dozens of current investigations, trials, and controversies regarding recent events, Trump may also struggle to boost overall opinion of him in order to win over the masses. Other potential Republican candidates include Gov. Ron DeSantis, Sen. Ted Cruz, Nikki Haley, and former Secretary Mike Pompeo among others.
“I get to vote in the next election,” said senior Avery Harrington. “Politics can be such a sensitive subject, but throughout history, there have always been seasons like this where everyone is divided over a lot of subjects. I just hope that we all vote for whoever wants the best for our country, not just the best for themselves.”
As the next election inches closer, people begin placing their bets and well-wishes on their candidate of interest. Although we’re not sure which two the 2024 presidency will come down to, it will likely be another nail-biter between two incredibly passionate sides with a common goal: the best for our country.
“I don’t know if it will go down to Trump and Biden again,” said sophomore Devin Bowman. “I kind of hope it doesn’t for all of our sake. I think it would be nice to see some new people with new ideas and not just the same two guys we’ve seen for the last almost-eight years.”
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