Martin Van Buren and the Limits of Political Rhetoric
Economic tension is sometimes more powerful than ideology.
Joe Biden is currently facing an uphill climb in his drive to secure a second term in 2024. He is behind in numerous national and battleground state polls. Many of his supporters are attacking his domestic and foreign policy. Pundits continue to call for him to be replaced at the top of the ticket. Biden seems headed for defeat in 2024 unless he can find some way of rallying the country around his candidacy once again.
The most surprising factor of Biden’s weakness is a newfound admiration for former President Donald Trump. Trump is receiving high marks on nearly every aspect of his proposed agenda. Voters trust him to do a better job on immigration, unemployment, and the economy. His support among nonwhite voters is increasing despite the many racist comments and possibilities that defined his presidency.
There is a possibility that voters truly are taking a second look at the MAGA agenda and liking what they see. But more than likely, they are building up a mythically powerful candidate in opposition to what they view as economic hard times. In this way, they are repeating a process that stretches back centuries in American politics, most notably to one of the first presidents of the party era.