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- Mark Leibovich told Insider in an interview that Biden was not meeting the current political moment.
- "Biden, unfortunately is working with a pretty limited toolbox, at the stage of his career," he said.
- Biden has said he plans to run for reelection, but recent polling shows Democrats want new options.
Mark Leibovich told Insider in an interview that President Joe Biden is not "terribly well-suited to the moment" at this stage of his career, which has spanned nearly 50 years and endured a huge shift in the political climate of Washington, DC.
Leibovich, a staff writer at The Atlantic and author of the forthcoming book, "Thank You for Your Servitude: Donald Trump's Washington and the Price of Submission," said the 79-year-old former Delaware senator and ex-vice president no longer occupies the same political sphere as he once did during his long tenure on Capitol Hill.
"He's not the bully pulpit guy — he doesn't seem to be anymore. He's much more of a conversational relationship guy at this point," Leibovich said.
He continued: "I would imagine he would much prefer to be President of the United States at the age of 58 rather than 78 or whatever he is. I imagine that would be true of most Americans as they see Joe Biden. But unfortunately, I think what the Democrats really need right now and maybe what the country really needs right now is a gifted bully pulpit president — whether it's someone like Ronald Reagan or Barack Obama or Bill Clinton — who can really sort of speak to the pain that people are feeling."
Leibovich also said that many voters wanted to see more "outrage" from Biden on big issues, especially as it pertains to mass shootings that have become common throughout the country in recent years.
"Biden, unfortunately is working with a pretty limited toolbox, at the stage of his career," he said.
As the president maps out a likely 2024 reelection map, Leibovich spoke of how Biden sought to "keep going," despite issues like inflation and broader economic issues that have led to low approval ratings.
"He thinks he still will have it in him for another four years, but I have serious doubts about that," he said.
"But he's made the decision that apparently he's going to keep going and try to get elected again," he added. "So, you use whatever tools you have at the moment. Unfortunately, I don't think he's terribly well-suited to the moment."
Biden has said publicly and privately said that he intends to run for reelection in 2024.
Some Democrats have started to raise questions about Biden's age, as he would be 86 at the end of his second term if he wins reelection, and expressed reservations about a 2024 presidential campaign.
The president would likely win the Democratic nomination in 2024, given historical precedent and the institutional party support he would enjoy as the commander-in-chief.
But a newly-released New York Times/Siena College poll showed that 64 percent of Democrats would prefer a new presidential nominee in 2024.
The same survey also showed Biden leading former President Donald Trump — his 2020 and potential 2024 opponent — by a 44 percent to 41 percent margin, though the lead falls within the poll's margin of error.
source https://www.businessinsider.com/mark-leibovich-biden-limited-toolbox-political-moment-democrats-book-2022-7