The Democrat Saying What Others Won’t

The Run-Up

The New York Times

News Commentary, Politics, News

4.4 • 2K Ratings

🗓️ 15 June 2023

⏱️ 46 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Back in 2020, Joe Biden stood out in a crowded Democratic primary field filled with younger, more historic candidates. Voters worried that Mr. Biden was too moderate, too uninspiring and too old. One of his challengers, former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro, got a lot of attention for his willingness to echo those concerns. But after going hard at Mr. Biden in a debate, his campaign fizzled and Mr. Castro, once a rising star in the Democratic Party, left Washington altogether. To some, it seemed like evidence of the consequences of stepping out of line with the party. Heading into the 2024 election, as voters grapple with the same questions about the incumbent president, Astead sits down with Mr. Castro to explore the party’s code of silence surrounding Mr. Biden’s primary alternatives and his advanced age. For more information on today's episode, visit nytimes.com/therunup.

Transcript

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0:00.0	In making a case for a second term, Joe Biden has plenty of legislative accomplishments
0:07.6	he can point to.
0:09.7	But when you talk to Democratic voters, those rarely come up.
0:13.7	Instead, you hear the same old concerns.
0:17.1	Ahead of the reelection announcement, a CBS News poll found Democrats accept Biden's
0:22.4	reelection bid, but aren't necessarily excited about it.
0:26.7	He's not that inspiring.
0:28.6	And still, nearly half of Democrats don't want the 80-year-old to run.
0:33.0	And of course.
0:34.0	And they cite his age as the reason.
0:36.8	The concern about his age.
0:38.6	For a lot of people, the elephant in the room is the president's age.
0:42.9	I can tell you at 47, I've lost a little on my fastball and he needs to make a case to
0:48.2	the American people.
0:49.7	He does.
0:50.7	Why he's the best man for the job.
0:52.7	But within the Democratic party, it's still very rare to hear those challenges acknowledged
0:57.6	out loud, especially with Donald Trump on the other side.
1:02.8	Back in 2019.
1:03.8	Good evening and welcome to Houston.
1:05.7	We are alive from Texas Southern University for tonight's Democratic debate, the top 10
1:10.0	candidates.
	...

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