In a recent Op-Ed for Fox News on Monday, former Republican Representative Jason Chaffetz from Utah presented his reasoning behind his belief that President Joe Biden is not planning to participate in the 2024 presidential election.
Chaffetz detailed five key factors that led him to this conclusion:
- A lack of campaign staff.
- Limited travel to campaign stops.
- The role of Kamala Harris.
- Biden’s response to the Hawaii disaster.
- Hunter Biden and the president’s involvement in related controversies.
Chaffetz, who retired from the House in 2017, began by highlighting that Biden’s campaign team consists of a “small group of staffers working solely out of his home state of Delaware.” He noted that Biden had just four people on the payroll last quarter, all working out of party offices, suggesting a lack of urgency to initiate a comprehensive campaign when the first primary votes are five months away.
Chaffetz further pointed out Biden’s tendency to travel to specific locations that are not particularly competitive. He mentioned Biden’s absence from the important Iowa State Fair and his visit to Utah, a state that is not typically a battleground. Chaffetz noted that a serious candidate would campaign in crucial states like Nevada, Colorado, and Montana.
The Op-Ed then shifted focus to Kamala Harris, a less visible aspect of Biden’s administration. Chaffetz highlighted Harris’s minimal portfolio and lack of substantial involvement in addressing immigration, human trafficking, and other pressing issues.
Biden’s response to the Maui fires also raised concerns for Chaffetz. He criticized Biden’s “no comment” response to reporters and questioned the lack of action taken to address the crisis.
Regarding the Hunter Biden scandals, Chaffetz noted the emergence of evidence indicating that foreign entities provided payments to Biden’s son in exchange for access to the president. Chaffetz suggested that the campaign might be taking defensive measures due to these controversies.
Chaffetz concluded by stating that despite a potential “basement-to-beach” campaign strategy, it seems likely that Biden will not run in 2024. He noted Biden’s absence from the campaign trail, lack of active defense of his presidency, and absence of a clear vision for the future. Chaffetz predicted that by the end of the current calendar year, Biden might not be a candidate for the 2024 election.
