Although President Biden delivered what sounded like a presidential campaign speech at a Democratic National Committee dinner in Philadelphia on Friday night, he has not yet formally confirmed his candidature for reelection.
“I know the Republicans ran on inflation last year — I didn’t know they were trying to make it worse,” the president said in remarks at the Democratic National Committee Winter Meeting.
With Vice President Harris at his side, Biden gave a speech that sounded a lot like a stump speech in front of a “Biden-Harris” background, rallying the crowd to cries of “four more years.” He blasted recent Republican legislation, including one that would restrict the president’s power to use the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and another that would impose a 30% national sales tax.
We can rule that out right now. I’m going to veto the sucker,” he declared, adding that he could also use his veto power to prevent Republicans from reducing funding for programs like Medicare and Social Security or passing a nationwide ban on abortion.
Although Biden hasn’t formally announced a reelection campaign, on Wednesday at a chief of staff transition event, Ron Klain remarked that he looks forward to being by Biden’s side when he runs in 2024, effectively ending any doubts about whether the president will seek another term. With the State of the Union address scheduled for Tuesday, Biden and Harris’ travel to Philadelphia arrives a few days early.
“These aren’t conservatives,” he told the crowd in Philadelphia, echoing his line from the midterm campaign that this is “not your father’s Republican party.”
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“They are disruptive people. They intend to destroy the progress we made,” he added.
Following his discussion with Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) earlier this week, the President said he wanted to work with Republicans and brought up negotiations about extending the debt limit. Some Republicans have argued that any vote to extend the debt ceiling should entail cuts to federal spending, while Vice President Biden and White House officials have stated Congress should lift the cap without restrictions.
“If Republicans want to work together to find real solutions … I’m ready,” he said. “I’m not going to let anyone use the full faith and credit of the United States as a bargaining chip.”
