Clinton Calls Biden's Reelection Bid a 'Terrible Miscalculation'

Hillary Clinton has sharply criticized President Joe Biden’s decision to seek reelection in 2024, calling it a 'terrible miscalculation' that cost Democrats the presidency. Speaking at an event in New York on Monday, Clinton argued that Biden's reversal of his initial promise not to run for a second term left the party in a difficult position and ultimately led to Donald Trump’s victory.

Clinton suggested that if Biden had announced in late summer 2023 that he would not seek reelection, a competitive Democratic primary would have produced a stronger nominee. 'Very sadly, I believe whoever emerged from that contest, whether it was the vice president or a governor or a senator or anybody else, would have beaten Donald Trump,' she said.

Biden’s campaign faced significant challenges after his poor debate performance in June 2024, which led to widespread calls for him to step aside. He ultimately withdrew from the race in late July 2024, leaving Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee. Clinton noted that Harris was hampered by her association with Biden’s administration, making it difficult for her to criticize his policies.

The Guardian reported that a post-election analysis by the left-leaning group Way to Win identified several factors contributing to the Democrats' loss, including economic dissatisfaction among voters and structural media advantages for Republicans. Clinton's remarks come amid ongoing debates within the Democratic Party about the lessons learned from the 2024 election.