When it comes to presidential races in the U.S., an incumbent is usually backed by his party for re-election.

But, the Democrats have a big problem on their hands this time, Joe Biden.

Biden’s failed policies, age, and poor approval ratings had led to some in his party questioning if he should run for re-election.

Others have come out and publicly challenged him, announcing their intention to run for president.

The 80-year-old is facing a primary challenge from three-term Democratic Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota, who launched a primary challenge against him last month.

He is also facing challenges from Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and scholar Cornel West.

On Thursday, 2016 Green Party presidential nominee Jill Stein also added her name to the list.

Even though he hasn’t made an official announcement, former West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin, who announced he wouldn’t be seeking re-election to his senate seat last week, is expected to announce that he intends to run as well.

At this rate, Biden is going to have more primary challengers than President Trump. But, unlike Trump, who has an overwhelming lead over his challengers, Biden might not make it past the primaries.

From Fox News:

Plenty of Democrats still blame Stein’s 2016 campaign for putting Trump in the White House. Her vote totals seven years ago in the key battlegrounds of Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin topped Trump’s margins over Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in each state.

There has been rampant speculation Manchin could join a potential bipartisan national ticket that the centrist group No Labels is considering launching next spring.

Veteran New Hampshire-based political scientist Wayne Lesperance, the president of New England College, noted that Manchin potentially “creates new troubles for Team Biden’s re-election.”

“Manchin has options — none of which are good for the president. He can decide to make a White House run on his own. He can join a No Labels-fueled effort to run. Even if he decided to just travel to battleground states and urge voters to support moderate or centrist campaigns, the impact will be felt by Team Biden,” Lesperance said.

Lesperance noted “the fact that polling numbers suggest that voters are unhappy with the prospect of another Trump-Biden contest, add that to the candidacies of Jill Stein, RFK Jr., and Cornell West, and it’s hard not to conclude that the president’s prospects are more difficult. Political headaches abound.”

 

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