Representative Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) caused a stir a few weeks ago when she said during a political debate that she didn’t believe President Joe Biden would run for re-election in 2024. Maloney is just one of many Democrats who have been asked about their preferences regarding a Biden 2024 run, particularly when his approval rating had dipped into the low 30s. Rep. Corie Bush, Sen. Joe Manchin, and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez had all been asked by reporters their opinions on a Biden re-election, with most of them avoiding a definitive answer.
Rep. Maloney has come under fire for her comment that she “didn’t believe” Joe Biden “would run in 2024.” Maloney would eventually apologize, saying, “I apologize. I want you to run. I happen to think you won’t be running, but when you do or if you do, I will be there 100 percent.”
Maloney’s comments drew a great deal of ire because she is one of the few high profile Congressional candidates to actually say what she thought about the chances of a 2024 Biden run. The president has maintained that he will run for a second term in 2024.
Late last week, however, Rep. Maloney was asked once more about a Biden presidential run in 2024. Maloney was sitting down with the editorial board of The New York Times.
One board member questioned Maloney regarding issues such as age limits for Congresspeople, to which Maloney said that “Members of Congress have a term limit. It’s called an election every two years.”
Maloney was pressed by two different members of the editorial board, as they had asked her about age limits rather than term limits for Congressional members. Somehow, they segued into talking about a second Biden presidential term. “Off the record, he’s not running,” Maloney responded. Maloney would not offer evidence as to how she knew this.
One of the members of the Times board reminded Maloney that they could not go off the record unless the reporters present agreed to do so. Maloney replied: “On the record? No, he should not run again,” echoing the apology she made publicly after the debate comments.
By the end of the day Saturday, the same editorial board that interviewed Rep. Carolyn Maloney had publicly endorsed her opponent, Rep. Jerrold (Jerry) Nadler. Nadler has served as a New York Congressman since 1992. He and Maloney have been pitted against one another since redistricting in the state took place.
Fox News reports that the interview was conducted on August 1; Maloney’s initial public comments came on August 4. The New York Times did not run the interview with Maloney until Saturday, August 13.
Maloney made a public appearance on CNN’s “New Day” when she made her apology to the White House. She also said she would support him fully in that decision. Maloney looked directly into the camera, and, after her apology, said: “You have deserved (to run again). You are a great president and thank you for everything you’ve done for my state and all the states and all the cities in America. Thank you, Mr. President.”
President Biden will turn 80 in November 2022, and recent polling has shown that as many as 75 percent of those polled want a fresh face as the Democratic presidential nominee in 2024. Currently, Biden is the oldest president ever; if he runs in 2024, he will be the eldest to do so. Reagan was 77 when he won re-election in 1984.
However, the Democratic Party and Joe Biden have garnered a little support from their voters due to the passage of the PACT Act, the Chips Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act. Unfortunately, the Biden Administration is still getting low ratings even in the face of this successful legislation. Biden’s latest poll rating comes in at 40 percent.
Maloney herself is 76, and she has served in Congress for nearly 30 years.
