President Joe Biden on Tuesday formally announced his bid for reelection, setting off a battle to convince the country his record merits another four years in the White House and his age won’t impede his ability to govern.
In a video released early Tuesday, Biden framed next year’s contest as a fight against Republican extremism, implicitly arguing he needed more time to fully realize his vow to restore the nation’s character.
“When I ran for president four years ago, I said we are in a battle for the soul of America. And we still are,” he said in the video, which opened with images of the January 6, 2021, insurrection and abortion rights activists protesting at the US Supreme Court.
“The question we are facing is whether in the years ahead we have more freedom or less freedom. More rights or fewer,” Biden says in voiceover narration. “I know what I want the answer to be and I think you do too. This is not a time to be complacent. That’s why I’m running for reelection.”
Biden’s official declaration ends any lingering doubts about his intentions, and begins a contest that could evolve into a rematch with his 2020 rival, former President Donald Trump. He enters the race with a significant legislative record but low approval ratings, a conundrum his advisers have so far been unable to solve. Already the oldest president in history, he also confronts persistent questions about his age.
The launch comes four years to the day Biden made his 2020 bid official. That race became a mission to restore the country’s character and prevent Trump from achieving a second term.
Biden’s fourth and final presidential campaign will rest on similar themes. Just as he did in 2020, Biden is making an appeal to the nation’s ideals, particularly with the specter of Trump’s return.
His announcement video warns against “MAGA extremists” who he says are “dictating what health care decisions women can make, banning books, and telling people who they can love.”
“Every generation of Americans has faced a moment when they’ve had to defend democracy. Stand up for our personal freedoms. Stand up for the right to vote and our civil rights,” he says. “And this is our moment.”
But Biden’s campaign will also ride on promoting the achievements made during the first two years of his presidency — and an argument he needs more time to “finish the job.”
“I know we can,” he says.
The Republican National Committee immediately rolled out an attack ad against Biden, unveiling what it called an “AI-generated look into the country’s possible future if Joe Biden is re-elected.” The dystopian video intermixes “news” of Biden’s reelection in 2024 with faux reports of high crime, international turmoil, rampant illegal immigration and financial calamity.
Little enthusiasm for another Biden run amid concerns about his age
No major Democratic challengers are expected to emerge, and Biden is likely to enjoy an easy path to his party’s nomination. Only two challengers are in the race: author Marianne Williamson and anti-vaccine activist and environmental lawyer Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Still, at 80, Biden is the nation’s oldest president. Polls have consistently reflected concern about his age even among Democrats.
Most Americans — and even a majority of Democrats — in recent surveys have shown little enthusiasm for another Biden run.
A series of upcoming challenges, from the ongoing war in Ukraine to a still-uncertain economy, could provide hurdles to Biden’s reelection. And now that power in Washington is divided, the GOP-controlled House has largely dashed hopes for major legislative accomplishments in the two years ahead of the 2024 vote.
.CNN
![[3/3, 12:30 PM] uncle Paul: Politics Feature Atiku Formally Joins Presidential Race Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has formally declared his interest in the 2023 presidential election . Atiku who lost to President Muhammadu Buhari in the 20219 presidential election, made the declaration while meeting with some stakeholders. The former VP explained that his decision followed the need for good governance in Nigeria, pointing out that he has all it takes to salvage the country from the numerous challenges facing it. He said: “We are in one of the trying and tough times in our history in this country- poverty, insecurity joblessness and insecurity. "There has never been a time when Nigerians need serious leadership than now. “PDP is in a better position to offer Nigerians that desirable leadership. That is what I want to offer. I want to offer solutions to our problems. “I have the experience at the lower and highest levels. As a vice president of Nigeria, I made much progress in national transformation. “As a businessman, I have solved grassroot problems by creating jobs for thousands of people”. [3/3, 12:46 PM] uncle Paul: News Don't Feature Why Over One Billion People May Become Deaf - WHO Over one billion people, including Nigerians and other nationals across the globe, aged 12 to 35, risk losing their hearing due to prolonged and excessive exposure to loud music and other high volume recreational noise, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned. WHO gave the warning in a new international safety advice on Wednesday to tackle the rising threat of hearing loss. The new international standard for safe listening at venues and events was launched ahead of World Hearing Day, marked on March 3. Over 1.5 billion people globally live with hearing loss, and according to recent estimates this number could rise to over 2.5 billion by 2030. WHO estimated that 50 per cent of hearing loss could be prevented through public health measures. According to the UN health agency, many common causes of hearing loss can be prevented, including over-exposure to high volume sounds. “Millions of teenagers and young people are at risk of hearing loss due to the unsafe use of personal audio devices and exposure to damaging sound levels at venues such as nightclubs, bars, concerts and sporting events,” Bente Mikkelsen, WHO director for the Department for Noncommunicable Diseases, said. “The risk is intensified as most audio devices, venues and events do not provide safe listening options and contribute to the risk of hearing loss,” she added. The new WHO standard aims to better safeguard young people as they enjoy their leisure activities. The global standard for safe listening at venues and events, highlights six recommendations for implementation to ensure that venues and events limit the risk of hearing loss to their patrons, while still preserving high-quality sound and an enjoyable listening experience. The new standard was developed under WHO’s Make Listening Safe initiative, launched in 2015, and seeks to improve listening practices especially among young people. WHO alerted that hearing loss due to loud sounds is permanent, underlining that exposure to loud sounds causes temporary hearing loss or tinnitus (ringing sound interference in the ears), and prolonged or repeated exposure can lead to permanent hearing damage, resulting in irreversible hearing loss. Calling for the new global standard to be supported, WHO encouraged governments to develop and enforce legislation for safe listening and raise awareness of the risks of hearing loss. The UN agency also advised that behaviour change can be motivated by civil society organisations, parents, teachers, and physicians, who can educate young people to practise safe listening habits. “Governments, civil society and private sector entities such as manufacturers of personal audio devices, sound systems, and video gaming equipment as well as owners and managers of entertainment venues and events have an important role to play in advocating for the new global standard,” Ren Minghui, WHO assistant director-general, said. He added, “We must work together to promote safe listening practices, especially among young people.” (NAN)](https://www.newtimes.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/el-yate-de-alisher-usmanov___iFbP-W3lV_1200x630__1.jpg)
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