Former Vice President Joe Biden will not publicly commit to serving only one term if elected president out of fears he would be viewed with less authority, aides told Politico.
“If Biden is elected,” a prominent adviser to the campaign told Politico, “he’s going to be 82 years old in four years and he won’t be running for reelection.”
The same adviser argued in favor of the 77-year old candidate publicly stating he would serve only term, saying that he could portray himself as the president who transitions from Trump to the next generation of Democrats. This could reassure younger voters who view him as a potential 8-year-long roadblock to the future, the adviser said.
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“This makes Biden a good transition figure,” the adviser said. “I’d love to have an election this year for the next generation of leaders, but if I have to wait four years [in order to] to get rid of Trump, I’m willing to do it.”
Another adviser contradicted claims that Biden would consider pledging a one-term presidency, saying the Democratic frontrunner believed it was a “nonstarter” and a “gimmick.”
A different adviser said Biden has not ruled out the possibility of a second term.
“He’s going into this thinking, ‘I want to find a running mate I can turn things over to after four years but if that’s not possible or doesn’t happen then I’ll run for re-election,'” the advisor said. “But he’s not going to publicly make a one term pledge.”
After Politico published the article, Biden’s deputy campaign manager and communications director, Kate Bedingfield, said that Biden will not make a one-term pledge and is “not privately considering declining to run for re-election.”
