President Joe Biden's reelection campaign is experiencing significant internal stress, with staffers reportedly on the verge of mental breakdowns as they navigate a challenging political landscape. Recent developments have exacerbated the situation, including tight polling against former President Donald Trump and the aftermath of a lackluster debate performance by Biden.
The pressure within Biden's campaign team has been mounting, particularly after an internal memo highlighted the tight race. According to the memo, Biden and Trump are essentially tied in battleground states, with some polls showing Trump slightly ahead. The memo, sent by campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez and campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon, aimed to reassure staff by providing a broader perspective on the president's support, despite the close numbers.
Despite repeated WH denials of any Obama-Biden tension and the public bromance display, Biden friend Joe Scarborough says: "Joe Biden is deeply resentful of his treatment under not only the Obama staff but also the way he was pushed aside for Hillary Clinton" pic.twitter.com/o95DELNNS7
— Alex Thompson (@AlexThomp) July 11, 2024
The stress has been palpable among the campaign staff, who are tasked with maintaining momentum and addressing the fallout from Biden's debate performance last week. During a recent staff call, Biden acknowledged the poor performance and attributed it to fatigue from foreign travel, a point that has not alleviated the anxiety among his team.
Adding to the campaign's woes is the public perception of Biden's age and mental acuity, which has become a focal point of criticism. This has led to increased scrutiny and pressure on the campaign to manage the president's image and counteract negative narratives. The campaign has been working hard to project a message of resilience and focus, but internal morale has been affected by the constant barrage of challenges.
These are two WH denials to me just in the past few months:
"The Biden and Obama families are like family to one other, and whomever made these claims about that relationship isn't familiar with it."
"As President Biden has said, President Obama is family to him" pic.twitter.com/uQEYg7hupt
— Alex Thompson (@AlexThomp) July 11, 2024
Despite these hurdles, Biden's campaign is pushing forward with a strong team of leaders. Recently, Biden announced his campaign's national co-chairs, featuring prominent Democrats such as Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI), Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-SC), and Sens. Chris Coons (D-DE) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL). This leadership team is tasked with expanding the diverse coalition that helped Biden secure victory in 2020.
The campaign's strategy also involves highlighting Biden's engagements and grassroots energy. Biden is scheduled to participate in several high-profile events, including a Medal of Honor ceremony and an interview with ABC News, in an effort to boost public perception and rally support.
While the campaign faces internal stress, it remains focused on the broader goal of winning the 2024 election. With the leadership team in place and a plan to address polling concerns, Biden's campaign is gearing up for what promises to be a hard-fought battle for the presidency.
As the election season progresses, the Biden campaign's ability to manage internal stress and maintain a cohesive strategy will be critical. The team’s resilience in the face of adversity will play a significant role in determining the outcome of the 2024 election.
