Overview: Fox News White House correspondent Peter Doocy questioned White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre about a POLITICO article suggesting Democrats are in a state of panic over President Joe Biden’s re-election prospects. Jean-Pierre deflected, focusing on Biden’s connection to the American people.
Why It Matters: This highlights growing concerns within the Democratic Party about Biden’s re-election chances, suggesting a lack of confidence that could impact voter sentiment.
Who It Impacts: This issue affects Democratic voters and party donors, as well as the broader electorate concerned with the upcoming 2024 election and its potential outcomes.
On Tuesday, a tense exchange unfolded at the White House press briefing when Fox News White House correspondent Peter Doocy posed a pointed question to Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. Doocy referred to a POLITICO article that painted a picture of Democrats in a panic over President Joe Biden’s re-election prospects.
The POLITICO article, titled “Dems in full-blown ‘freakout’ over Biden,” highlighted deepening anxieties among Democratic leaders about Biden’s chances against former President Donald Trump in the 2024 election. It quoted a Democratic operative saying Biden’s poor polling and the high stakes of the election were causing significant concern within the party.
“Are you guys here at the White House in full-blown freak-out mode?” Doocy asked Jean-Pierre. She responded with apparent confusion, “What are you talking about? What are you talking about?”
Doocy pressed on, citing the POLITICO report, which described growing fears within the Democratic Party as the election nears. “There’s a — there’s a — POLITICO story. It sounds like Democrats, outside —” he began before Jean-Pierre cut him off, “Peter —”
Jean-Pierre sidestepped the inquiry, emphasizing that she would not comment on the 2024 election but shifted to discussing Biden’s empathy for American families. “I will say this — uh — the President has never forgotten where he comes — where he came from, who he is. He understands what the American people are going through as they’re sitting around the kitchen table,” she said.
DOOCY TIME: “Are you guys here at the White House in full-blown freak out mode?”
KJP: “What are you talking about? What are you talking about?”
Doocy: “There’s a — there’s a —”
KJP: “Peter!”
Doocy: “— Politico story. It sounds like Democrats, outside — the quote is ‘Biden’s… pic.twitter.com/o5bk7Yhlkx
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) May 28, 2024
The POLITICO piece detailed a pervasive sense of fear among Democratic leaders and strategists, who are increasingly worried about Biden’s re-election chances. The article noted that despite Trump’s legal troubles, he is leading Biden in most battleground state polls. Furthermore, Trump raised significantly more funds in April, adding to the Democrats’ woes.
A key point from the article was a list compiled by an adviser to major Democratic donors, detailing nearly two dozen reasons Biden might lose. This list has been circulated among funders, highlighting issues such as Biden’s stubbornly poor polling numbers and various scandals affecting his administration.
Veteran Democratic strategist Pete Giangreco was quoted in the article expressing deep concern. “If the frame of this race is, ‘What was better, the 3.5 years under Biden or four years under Trump,’ we lose that every day of the week and twice on Sunday,” Giangreco said, reflecting the pessimism prevalent among Democratic strategists.
The increasing anxiety within the Democratic Party comes as Biden’s administration faces numerous challenges, including handling the fallout from Trump’s hush-money trial and ongoing investigations involving Biden’s son, Hunter. This backdrop has fueled Republican confidence and highlighted the uphill battle Democrats face in the coming months.
As the 2024 election approaches, the Democratic Party must address these internal fears and present a united front if they hope to retain the presidency. The White House’s response to Doocy’s questioning indicates a reluctance to publicly acknowledge the depth of concern within the party, opting instead to focus on Biden’s relatability and empathy towards American voters.
