Noted Democratic strategist James Carville recently called President Joe Biden the “most tragic figure in modern American politics.” On his podcast Politics War Room, James Carville lashed out at Biden for staying in the presidential race until just three and a half months before Election Day, a decision James Carville says undercut both Biden’s legacy and the Democratic Party’s chances in the 2024 election.
“If he had gotten out in mid-2023, we would have won this election,” James Carville said. “He could have gotten out on a high note, where all the accomplishments were saluted, and a new generation of Democratic talent was taking it on the road.”
Carville then added that it became impossible for Harris to win due to Biden’s decision to run again, something that could have been avoided. Carville added that withdrawal earlier in the process would have given the Democrats time to coalesce behind a more cohesive, stronger ticket.
Harsh Legacy Criticism
The important figure in former President Bill Clinton’s 1992 campaign, Carville, expressed frustration at what he called Biden’s “self-inflicted” political misfortunes. While praising Biden’s policies and character, Carville said that his decision to quit the race was too late and overshadowed his success, especially in manufacturing and the economy.
“It’s tragic because it didn’t have to be this way,” Carville lamented. “He knows he made a mistake, and it’s painful to watch.”
The Hunter Biden Scandal
Carville also had words for the backlash involving Biden’s pardon of his son, Hunter Biden. Many condemned the decision but Carville waved it away as something that had to happen. “When somebody says they wouldn’t pardon their child, I don’t believe it. Parents protect their children—it’s human nature,” he commented.
Looking Back at Blown Chances
Carville painted a picture of an alternate scenario where Biden stepped aside early, allowing the party to regroup and perhaps avoid its electoral loss. He noted that such a decision would have saved Biden’s legacy and reduced the uproar over the pardon for Hunter Biden.
As part of the reflection on an election cycle that was very rough for Democrats, the words of Carville highlight debates within the party over leadership and strategy.
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