AS the United States enters a crucial election year, a PR expert has claimed that President Joe Biden might step back after a troubling few years in office.
With the official presidential ballot all but certain to be a Biden-Trump rematch, the expert predicts that 2024 will be chaotic and challenging for US politics.
President Biden has faced intense scrutiny throughout his time in officeAP:Associated Press
Biden could pass the baton off to California Governor Gavin Newsom before the November presidential election, a PR expert has saidAP:Associated Press
For now, however, Newsom is not currently campaigning for the 2024 electionReuters
Eric Schiffer, chairman of the Los Angeles-based firm Reputation Management Consultants, spoke exclusively to The U.S. Sun to reflect on Biden’s 2023 and what lies ahead.
“President Biden has had a grisly year in his numbers that are horrific, in terms of public approval and the challenges he’s had to deal with in being part of managing America’s involvement in the War in Ukraine and then Israel, and an economy with many pockets that is challenged,” Schiffer said.
Biden’s approval rate was at just 40% in a Reuters/Ipsos poll dated December 5, 2023.
In 2023, the president’s approval rating hovered between 39% and 42%, according to the same poll.
Those numbers don’t bode well for Biden, 81, who has faced intense scrutiny throughout his presidency.
In addition to his handling of top issues, many have lamented that the president is too old to hold the office, and have criticized him for his frequent falls up the stairs of Air Force One and other public places.
“Yet he [Biden] has soldiered on,” Schiffer said.
‘DEMOCRATS HAVE BIG CONCERNS’
As far as whether Biden will be the Democratic nominee come November, Schiffer said it’s still anyone’s guess.
“We’ll see soon whether he is truly going to be facing off against Donald Trump or whether he’ll hand the ball to Gavin Newsom,” the PR expert continued.
Newsom, the current governor of California, isn’t on the 2024 ballot, but many have speculated that he could become a frontrunner in 2028.
Others have said that Newsom could be a viable candidate to step in if Biden bows out.
Schiffer said the latter is likely because “many Democrats have big concerns as to whether Biden can really beat Trump in 2024 at a time where the economy may still face serious pressure and be hobbled to the point where it gives an advantage to Trump.”
“Newsom is talented, disciplined, and tough – all the things that the Democrats need to fight against a political warrior and a base that, no matter how many times he’s indicted or denigrated, he [Trump] holds onto that base and almost a maniacal love for the principles and the way he goes about doing it that’s so anti-politician.”
TRUMP’S BALLOT BANS
Trump, meanwhile, has been banned from the Republican presidential primary ballot in Colorado and Maine, pending appeals.
Officials in each of those states argued that Trump violated the 14th Amendment in the US Constitution with his actions on January 6, 2021, while he was still in office.
Trump shared tweets during the Capitol protests encouraging people to demonstrate while claiming the election results were stolen by Democrats.
The 14th Amendment has a clause that states no person who has “engaged in insurrection of rebellion” can hold a position in federal office.
For now, Trump’s 2024 presidential run remains in jeopardy.
But the Supreme Court is expected to rule on Trump’s eligibility in 2024, though no date has been set.
‘MORE DIFFICULT YEARS’
With the futures of both Biden and Trump uncertain, many questions remain as the election cycle is about to get underway.
The next Republican debate is scheduled for January 10 just days before the Iowa caucus on January 15.
As far as what lies ahead, Schiffer predicts that 2024 will be politically challenging for the US.
“I expect 2024 to be one of the more difficult years in our country’s history because of the volatility that will occur and the challenges that this election will cause the country as well as how many of our adversaries overseas will try to amplify that chaos,” Schiffer said.
PR expert Eric Schiffer spoke to The U.S. Sun about Biden’s 2023 and what’s to comeGetty Images
Schiffer called Newsom “talented, disciplined, and tough”AFP – Getty Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
