President Joe Biden announced that he will seek a second term in office. The 80-year-old made the announcement in a highly produced video message.
On this week's episode of Snollygoster, Ohio's politics podcast from WOSU, hosts Mike Thompson and Steve Brown discuss the level of enthusiasm for Biden amid the concerns about his age and ability to serve. Progressive activist Morgan Harper joins the show.
Four more years
President Joe Biden, who ran in 2020 as a transitional leader, apparently wants it to be an 8-year transition. He says he needs another term to "finish the job."
With any other president coming up on the end of a first term, this would be a given. But this president is in the midst of his 81st trip around the sun.
Biden is the oldest-serving president. He'd be 82 on Inauguration Day 2025 and 86 when he leaves office, nine years older than Ronald Reagan was when he left office.
A recent AP poll shows only 26% of Americans think Joe Biden should run again. Polls show only half of Democrats think Biden should run, with 47% saying he should run again. Both of those numbers are up since January.
There are many Democrats who praise Biden's work as president, but worry about his age and would like to see someone new.
Biden's announcement sets up a potential rematch against former President Donald Trump, who is widely expected to run for the Republican nomination in 2024.
It is still early in the race, and it is unclear whether Biden will face any serious challenges from within his own party.
Snollygoster of the week
In January, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed an elections bill that banned August special elections. The thinking was that politicians use elections in the middle of vacation season to game the system and take advantage of low turnout to get special issues passed, such as local tax increases.
However, now those same lawmakers want to immediately change that law to hold an election this August in an attempt to require a 60% threshold to pass amendments and thwart a possible November vote to enshrine abortion rights in the constitution.
DeWine, who is fiercely opposed to abortion rights, has now said he supports doing away with the law to hold an August vote. This move is going against the wishes of four former governors, both Democrats and Republicans, who say that an August election and requiring a 60% majority to change the constitution are a bad idea.
If you have a suggestion for our "Snollygoster of the Week" award, a question or a comment, send them to snollygoster@wosu.org.