BIDEN'S POTENTIAL BID FOR SECOND TERM IN JEOPARDY
As President Joe Biden is rumored to soon announce a 2024 bid for re-election, the developing investigation into several batches of classified documents found in his possession could cause turmoil for a potential campaign. This week, news broke of three sets of classified documents found at the Penn Biden Center and in two separate locations at the president's home in Wilmington, Delaware. On Saturday, White House Special Counsel Richard Sauber revealed that five additional pages of classified materials were found at Biden's home on Thursday when attorneys with security clearances went to the location.
Though many Democratic and Republican strategists believe the classified documents scandal won't play a major role in Biden's 2024 aspirations, some political insiders told Fox News Digital that it's still not an ideal situation for a president seeking re-election — particularly as it opens Biden up to GOP attacks. Kevin Walling, a Democratic strategist, said he does not think the documents will affect Biden's decision to run for re-election. "I think the president from what I've seen and heard has made up his mind to run, and clearly he knew that this was likely to be an issue when the documents were turned over last fall, he was down with his family in the Caribbean. And all indications are that he's running for office, and that he plans to run hard and win," Walling said. "So I don't think this is going to actually affect his thinking on 2024 whatsoever."
Biden's former Press Secretary Jen Psaki also said it wouldn't be great for president to go under a special consul so soon to launching his reelection campaign. "No one wants a special counsel. You don’t go into a year before you may run for president and think: "I want a special counsel this year". No one wants that,' she said. She also said the documents being left behind was 'sloppy staff work in a transition,' between administrations, but said it could provide 'over the long-term - even if it brings short-term pain - being to their benefit.' A Democratic strategist, who asked to remain anonymous, also worried for Biden, telling The Hill: 'This is going to be a pretty big problem for the president.' 'Republicans have always been good at drumming up scandal and even though the situation here with Biden is completely different than the situation involving Trump, they’re going to act like this is a huge deal.'
Rodell Mollineau, another Democratic strategist, agreed, claiming the two situations were 'apples to oranges,' but Republicans won't treat it that way.
We will continue to bring you up to speed as the story unfolds.
