Joe Biden fires the starting gun on the presidential race

America’s future, and the West’s cohesion, rest on octogenarian shoulders

President Joe Biden delivers remarks about his economic plan to lead a manufacturing boom, grow the economy, and creating good-paying jobs in Michigan and across the country, at the SK Siltron CSS facility in Bay City, Mich. on Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2022. Closed-door meetings about when to roll out the president's campaign are intensifying; still, with no serious primary challenge and Republicans infighting, he feels little pressure. (Doug Mills/The New York Times)Credit: New York Times / Redux / eyevineFor further information please contact eyevinetel: +44 (0) 20 8709 8709e-mail: info@eyevine.comwww.eyevine.com *** Local Caption *** 15900587 — Image: Eyevine

Apr 27th 2023|WASHINGTON, DC

The presidentiaL election of 2024 will feature Joe Biden against the Republican nominee. The polls suggest that person will be Donald Trump, giving America the sequel it does not want. Mr Biden announced his re-election bid on April 25th, the fourth anniversary of the start of his previous presidential campaign. Though in fact this will be the fourth time Mr Biden has run for president: his first attempt came before the fall of the Soviet Union or, for those who measure time by Michael Jackson’s discography, between “Bad” and “Dangerous”. Were he to win and complete a second term, he would be 86 when he leaves office. America’s population is younger than that of other Western democracies, its economy more vibrant. Its politics, however, are gerontocratic.

This article appeared in the United States section of the print edition under the headline “Take four”