The President of the United States, Joe Biden, celebrates this Friday his second anniversary in the White House, in a mandate that started just a few weeks after the assault on the Capitol and that faces its last half with the doubts raised by the discovery of official documents linked to his time as ‘number two’ of the Barack Obama Administration.
The appearance of theoretically protected documents in several places linked to Biden, including his home in Delaware, has meant for the president his first major scandal in months and has served as a throwing weapon for Republicans who now allege a double standard with respect to former President Donald Trump.
It is perhaps the most mediatic problem that Biden must now face, in a context marked by the economic pressure derived to a large extent from the military offensive launched by Russia on Ukraine almost eleven months ago. A poll published in December by Gallup showed that, for 40 percent of the population, economic problems are their main concern.
The president has open fronts in health matters, due to the rise in prices, or in immigration, as has become evident with the announcement of a policy that limits the arrival of foreigners and tries to contain the spike in arrivals at the border with Mexico.
In addition, there is the eternal debate on taxes, in particular on the tax burden to be imposed on large fortunes and companies, and the doubt as to the role of the United States vis-à-vis Russia, in a context in which Ukraine is asking its international allies for a greater commitment to sending heavy weapons and, in particular, tanks.
APPROVAL EVOLUTION As usual, Biden began his term on January 20, 2021, with a passing image rating of above 50 percent. In the months that followed, the attrition took its toll and, in August, the chaotic troop withdrawal in Afghanistan consolidated a downward trend that he has not been able to reverse.
The summary of polls prepared by Five Thirty Eight now places the level of support for Biden below 44 percent, although a slight upturn has been detected and, in any case, the collapse experienced in July 2022 seems somewhat more distant.
Then, the unprecedented rise in commodities such as fuel and food and the apparent political deadlock took their toll on Biden, who rebounded after several milestones such as the death of Al Qaeda leader Aiman al Zawahiri, the passing of the Inflation Reduction Act or the elimination of university debts.
This upturn also favored Democratic aspirations in the November elections, in which Biden’s party at least managed to maintain control of the Senate. The Republican Party, however, controls since this month the House of Representatives, from where it can formulate initiatives contrary to the interests of the White House, such as a possible investigation into Biden’s handling of the secret papers.
In Five Thirty Eight, analyst Nathaniel Rakich cites as the main theory for the President’s image the containment of inflation – in December it stood at 6.5 percent year-on-year – and the lowering of fuel prices, both measures that touch the pockets of consumers and, by extension, potential voters.
Rakich cautions that it remains to be seen what effect the discovery of the classified documents will have, inasmuch as the few polls that have come out in the wake of the controversy show an apparent consensus that Biden acted badly. In fact, a recent Quinnipiac University study showed that two-thirds of citizens were following the information in this regard, which indicates its potential social impact.
2024 ELECTIONS Biden has yet to clarify whether he will seek re-election in the 2024 presidential election. If he wins, he would begin his second term in the White House on January 20, 2025 at the age of 82, which for many analysts is his main burden.
In this regard, and as confirmed by multiple sources close to the president to The Hill, Biden would announce between February and April his intention to run for reelection and thus dispel doubts about his ability to continue governing the country due to his advanced age.
Biden’s campaign is finalizing the timing of the announcement. Two possibilities are being considered for now: an announcement in February, around the time of the State of the Union address, or a more formal presentation in April.
In the rival camp, there are already those who have begun to make moves, such as Trump himself, who, oblivious to the controversies that continue to haunt him from various fronts, has already confirmed that he wants to appear again in the list of candidates in the primaries of the Republican Party.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
