WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden is the target of Democratic anxieties about the upcoming midterm election. However, not all Minnesota Democrats are in agreement with Representatives Dean Phillips or Angie Craig who believe the party needs a new generation of leadership by 2024.
“Senator Tina Smith supports President Biden in his bid for reelection,” stated Shea Necheles, the senator’s spokeswoman.
Minnesota’s senior senator, Sen. Amy Klobuchar (who ran against Biden in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary), also supports President Trump’s reelection.
A spokesperson for Klobuchar said that the president had stated that he was running for reelection.
D-4 District Rep. Betty McCollum did not promise to support Biden, but she said that promoting a “dump Biden” movement was “distracting” Democrats during a critical time.
McCollum stated that “our nation is facing serious problems that require President Biden, this White House, to be 100% focused on governance – not an election which takes place some 27 months away.” “Right now my priority is to ensure Democrats win in November and maintain control over Congress and re-elect Governor Walz with our DFL ticket. All other discussions are just distractions for Democrats.
Rep. Ilhanomar, D-5 th District, has criticised some Biden’s policies and also responded to Craig’s recent comments.
Omar stated in an email that “I don’t believe it’s helpful for us be out talking about leadership change as we are fighting the House, extend Senate in this crucial critical midterm where all our freedoms are available,” Omar stated. Our democracy is in danger. Our rights to privacy and bodily autonomy are being threatened. We must do all we can to stay together and get through this midterm.
Omar stated that she supported Biden’s election earlier in the year. Omar split with Alexandra Ocasio Cortez, a fellow member of “Squad”, who said to CNN “we’ll pass that bridge when it gets to us.”
Ocasio Cortez stated that she believes the president should have a vision.
Phillips and Craig, who consider their selves to be members of the moderate wing, were much more outspoken that Ocasio Cortez.
Phillips, who is Minnesota’s 3rd Congressional District representative, was asked last week if he would vote for the 79-year old Biden in 2024.
Phillips said, “No, I think the country would benefit from a new generation compelling, well-prepared and dynamic Democrats who step up.”
Phillips, 53 years old, said that other Democrats in Congress also share his views.
Phillips stated, “I believe it’s time to a generational shift.” Phillips said, “And I believe most of my coworkers agree with that.”
Richard Carlbom, chairman of the Phillips campaign, said that the congressman didn’t want to expand his remarks.
Craig, D-2 District, said this week to MinnPost that she believes Democrats also need new leaders from the top down.
Craig, 50, stated that Dean Phillips and me are in sync and align with that. Craig said that he would do all he could as a member to ensure that there is a new generation in leadership.
Craig is engaged in a bitter reelection battle against Republican Tyler Kistner, in a race analysts consider to be a “tossup”.
Kyle Kondik, University of Virginia Center for Politics, said that Biden’s low popularity rating means it is “natural for members of President’s Party to try and create distance between themselves & the president in the midterm years.”
Kondik stated, “It might be that Omar is right that a party is more effective being united but clearly others living in more competitive areas don’t feel the same way.”
Will Biden run for re-election?
Some Democrats in difficult races, however, resisted the call to replace Biden as their party’s standard bearer for 2024.
Phillips and Craig raised the question, so Jerrold Nadler, a veteran New York Democrat, asked Carolyn Maloney: “Should President Biden again run in 2024?”
Nadler replied, “It’s too soon to say.” “It’s not in the interests of the Democratic Party that we deal with this until after the midterms.”
Maloney was blunter. She said, “I don’t believe he’s running for reelection.”
Karine Jean-Pierre, White House Press Secretary, stated that Phillips’ comments were made last week.
Jean-Pierre said that we are still a long way from 2024.
After redistricting redefined the boundaries of their Manhattan-based districts, Maloney, Nadler and the U.S. House, they are now battling one another in a primary. Suraj Patel (a third Democratic candidate) answered yes to the question of whether Biden should be running for re-election at Tuesday’s debate.
Others Democrats, such as Nadler or Maloney have been evasive.
For instance, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) has repeatedly stated that he isn’t sure if he will support Biden for another term.
In Minnesota, Biden defeated Donald Trump by just 7 points. However, Trump has been plagued by inflation, a persistent COVID-19 pandemic, and other issues like the baby formula shortage crisis.
FiveThirtyEight polls show that Biden’s approval rating has risen – very, very little – over the past week. Still, 55.7% said they disapprove the president’s job performance. Only 39.2% said that they approve.
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