A recent report from Politico has sent shockwaves through the Democratic Party as insiders reveal a growing sense of panic over President Joe Biden’s re-election campaign. The report, published Tuesday, paints a picture of a party in disarray, with senior Democrats expressing serious concerns about Biden’s chances of winning a second term.
According to the report, the mood within the party is one of “full-blown ‘freakout,'” with many Democrats privately questioning the effectiveness of Biden’s campaign strategy.
“You don’t want to be that guy who is on the record saying we’re doomed, or the campaign’s bad or Biden’s making mistakes. Nobody wants to be that guy,” a Democratic operative close to the White House told Politico anonymously.
Is it too late for Dems to replace Biden??@DLoesch breaks down an article claiming the Democrats are in "freak-out" mode over Biden's failing poll numbers. #DanaRadio
Podcast: https://t.co/HHFoIypomJ pic.twitter.com/r0I83aEO4k
— The Dana Show (@DanaLoeschRadio) May 28, 2024
The concerns are not unfounded. The report highlights Biden’s consistently low approval ratings and the growing perception among some Democrats that his campaign is failing to connect with voters. “If the frame of this race is, ‘What was better, the 3.5 years under Biden or four years under Trump,’ we lose that every day of the week and twice on Sunday,” said Pete Giangreco, a longtime Democratic strategist.
Adding to the Democrats’ worries is the strong fundraising performance of former President Donald Trump. In April, the Trump campaign and Republican National Committee outraised the Biden campaign and the Democrats by $25 million, including a record $50.5 million cash grab from an April 6 event in Palm Beach.
Politico: Democrats in full-blown freakout over Biden.
"You don’t want to be that guy who is on the record saying we’re doomed, or the campaign’s bad or Biden’s making mistakes. Nobody wants to be that guy." – Dem operative. pic.twitter.com/CdHkTkH4SW
— Eddie (@Eddies_X) May 28, 2024
The report also points to a list of nearly two dozen reasons why Biden could lose, ranging from immigration and high inflation to the president’s age and the unpopularity of Vice President Kamala Harris. The list was reportedly compiled by an adviser to major Democratic Party donors.
Despite the concerns, some Democrats remain optimistic. “The work we do every day on the ground and on the airwaves in our battleground states — to talk about how President Biden is fighting for the middle class against the corporate greed that’s keeping prices high, and highlight Donald Trump’s anti-American campaign for revenge and retribution and abortion bans — is the work that will again secure us the White House,” said a spokesperson for the Biden campaign.
However, the report suggests that the party is far from united in this view. The gap between what Democrats will say on TV or in print, and what they’ll text their friends, has only grown as worries have surged about Biden’s prospects.
As the election draws closer, the question on everyone’s mind is whether the Democrats can turn the tide and rally behind their candidate. For now, the party remains in “freakout” mode, with many wondering if it’s too late to reverse the current course.
