US Biden "Intends to Run for President"... Official Declaration Timing Undecided

U.S. President Joe Biden has announced his intention to run in the 2024 presidential election. This is the first time President Biden has expressed his intention to seek re-election.

On the 10th (local time), attending an Easter event at the White House, President Biden stated in an interview with NBC News, "I plan to run for president." However, he added that he is not yet ready to make an official announcement regarding his re-election bid.

The U.S. political sphere had largely accepted Biden's re-election bid as a given. Analysts note that Biden is a figure with a strong desire for the presidency, having run three times before (1988, 2008, 2020). Chris Coons, a Democratic senator and close aide to President Biden, said, "It is unlikely that he will ultimately decide not to run this time," adding, "He needs to decide quickly whether to run so that other candidates can build their competitiveness."

President Joe Biden of the United States

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The key issue was the timing of his re-election announcement. Initially, political circles expected him to declare his re-election bid about a year before the election, similar to former Democratic presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton. It was also anticipated that his campaign would begin in April.

However, earlier this year, confidential documents taken during his vice presidency were discovered at his personal office and residence, leading to a special prosecutor investigation, which weakened these expectations. Additionally, as former President Donald Trump, a potential presidential rival, became the first ex-president to be indicted, public attention shifted, making it inevitable that Biden's presidential announcement would be delayed.

Some speculate that President Biden will make an official announcement of his candidacy as late as this summer or fall. Biden’s close aides told The Washington Post, "He is currently balancing priorities that need to be politically considered while planning his re-election campaign," adding, "President Biden faces many decisions related to his campaign, so some aides expect him to announce his candidacy in spring or summer, but plans remain fluid."

The online media outlet Axios analyzed that President Biden might announce his candidacy in early July, at the start of the third quarter, rather than mid-second quarter, to highlight his fundraising achievements. U.S. politicians who declare their candidacy must report their fundraising results at the end of each quarter. Lower fundraising amounts are interpreted as weaker candidate support. Therefore, candidates often announce their candidacy at the beginning of a quarter. Axios reported, "Some of President Biden’s aides would prefer to delay the announcement until July, when the third quarter begins."

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