President Biden reportedly regrets dropping out of the presidential race and believes he could have beaten President Trump if he had stayed in the race. Biden and his aides have privately boasted that he should have remained in the race and could have won a second term. Despite this, Biden bowed to pressure from Democratic Party elites and dropped out of the race in July due to poor poll numbers and a rocky debate performance.
Vice President Kamala Harris replaced Biden on the Democratic ticket and was ultimately defeated by Trump. Biden has been careful not to blame Harris or her campaign for the loss, but has hinted that pressure from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi played a role in his decision to drop out of the race. During a CBS News interview in August and on “The View” in September, Biden expressed confidence that he could have defeated Trump in the November election.
Many Democrats believe that Biden’s decision not to drop out sooner contributed to Harris’ loss. Biden had initially run on the promise of being a transitional president who would hand off the reins to a new generation. Some of his closest advisers acknowledge that his old-school governing style did not always align with modern politics, leading to challenges during the campaign.
Biden has admitted to making gaffes during his time in office, including his performance in the debate and failing to take credit for pandemic relief checks. His administration also acknowledges that they could have done a better job of lifting Americans’ spirits during the pandemic. Biden has also expressed regret over picking Merrick Garland as attorney general, believing that he was too aggressive in prosecuting his son Hunter and too slow in prosecuting Trump over the January 6 riots.
Despite these setbacks, Biden and his aides continue to believe that he could have won the election if he had remained in the race. Some Democrats blame his decision to run again for breaking the concept of being a transitional president and handing off power to a new generation. While Biden continues to reflect on his decisions during the campaign, he maintains that his administration could have done more to inspire the American people during a time of crisis. Ultimately, President Biden has expressed regret over his decisions during the campaign but also acknowledges the challenges he faced as a candidate.
