Biden Closer to ‘Official’ Public Launch of 2024 Bid
WASHINGTON — Leave it to the ever-affable NBC “Today” show co-host Al Roker to get President Joe Biden so close to an official, public announcement of his intention to run for a second term.
Down from New York for the annual White House Easter Egg Roll, Roker did a high-spirited interview segment with the president and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden on the south-facing balcony of the executive mansion.
The “reveal” such as it was came when Roker asked how many more Easter Egg rolls Biden planned to officiate over.
Taking the bait, the president suggested the number could be as high as “five, maybe six,” which would take him to the end of a second term.
“Are you saying that you would be taking part in our upcoming election in 2024?” Roker asked.
“Help a brother out, make some news for me,” the longtime TV weatherman prodded.
“I plan on running, Al, but we’re not prepared to announce it yet,” Biden responded with a laugh.
As previously reported by The Well News, Biden filed a statement of candidacy for 2024 with the Federal Election Commission on March 31.
By law, individuals are required to register as candidates with the commission for the purpose of disclosing campaign finance activity. And they must do so within 15 days of exceeding $5,000 in receipts or disbursements.
So far, only two other Democrats, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and self-help author Marianne Williamson have emerged as candidates waging long-shot challenges to Biden for the party’s nomination.
Among those running for the Republican nomination are former President Donald Trump, who was just indicted on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in a case tied to allegations he orchestrated hush-money payments before the 2016 election to two women to conceal sexual encounters with him; former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, who filed his notice of candidacy with the FEC last Thursday.
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