Why does Biden have only two, and those marginal, Democratic opponents in the 2024 presidential race?

(Patria) - Some Democrats in the Arlington, Virginia area are concerned about the prospect of 80-year-old Joe Biden being their party's candidate in the 2024 US presidential election. And the main reason for their concern is Biden's age.

- He has immense knowledge, but for a successful president, his actions are a little slower than they should be - believes Arlington resident Darin Marshall.

His fellow resident Melissa Fry is of the opinion that many hope someone else will rise and that the party will promote them.

- I think a challenge is a healthy thing, because sometimes people need it to improve their effectiveness - said Yaileen Rodriguez, another Arlington resident.

For now, it seems that only two marginal candidates will be opponents to the current president - spiritual activist Marianne Williamson and environmental advocate Robert F. Kennedy.

- Neither of them, if history is any indication, will be in the running anymore when it's all over. The only way we might see a more significant candidate emerge besides Biden is if Biden actually decides to leave the race - says Ben Berger from Swarthmore College.

And that is because, as historians say, it is difficult to defeat a sitting president in the race for the party's nomination.

- They have name recognition and funding resources that opponents do not. And of course, experience in conducting a campaign and in leading the country - believes Allan Lichtman from American University.

According to David Greenberg from Rutgers University, Jimmy Carter was a weak president in 1980, and his opponent was Senator Ted Kennedy. George Bush Sr. was a very weak president but won the party nomination in 1992.

- So, it has happened, but it is rare for opponents to win - adds Greenberg.

In Biden's favor, it seems he will again face former President Donald Trump as the Republican Party candidate, which will make Democratic voters more likely to support him next year, believes political analyst Pope Mac McCorkle.

According to him, while things seem to be moving in that direction, due to the age of both candidates and Trump's legal problems, we could see a lot of changes from now until Election Day 2024.

With more than a year left until the election, analysts warn that the race is still in its early stages and that opinion polls published now about potential presidential candidates are no indicator for predicting what will happen in November 2024, reports Voice of America.