NYT columnist calls Biden SOTU speech a ‘comeback’ after saying he should not run

New York Times columnist Ezra Klein withdrew his previous request President Biden calls on him not to run for re-election his state of the union address A “comeback” to his hopes in Sunday’s election.

“If the Joe Biden who showed up to give the State of the Union address last week is the Joe Biden who shows up for the rest of the campaign, there will be no more weak-minded commentators suggesting he is not. ‘until I run for re-election,” Klein wrote, referring to himself. “I hope he does.”

Klain has previously cited his age and controversial handling of the Israel-Hamas war, and said that poor polling numbers have prompted Biden to step back and give young Democrats a chance to lead the party in 2024. He said that the ticket should be left to him. But after Thursday, Klain encouraged the Biden team to double down on one of the key points of the president’s State of the Union address: “The greatest reversal ever told.”

“Biden’s refrain from restoring America is poignant,” Klein wrote. “It does two things at once: It reminds voters that America is recovering from the chaos of the pandemic and the unruly, erratic management style brought on by President Trump; It allows Biden to show progress without declaring victory.”

“This is the right message for the incumbent. Good things are happening,” he continued. “Let’s continue.”

Democrats praised Biden’s speech as a sharp attack on Republican policies and a demonstration of a more vocal and active president, moving past previous criticisms of his age and mental health.

Klein emphasized that while the attacks on former President Trump and the threat he poses to democracy are important and effective, a campaign based on substantive policies can deliver victory for the president. That means the economy, especially prices.

Economic growth last year was much faster than expected, and the country avoided a recession that many economists had seen as inevitable. Still, polls show most Americans have little trust in the president on this issue.

Klein argues that an American comeback is the key to bridging the gap between what Americans feel and the current situation.

“Biden is used to talking about the threat Trump poses to democracy. It’s clear that’s what’s driving him into this campaign,” he wrote. “But he, not Trump, is the incumbent, and Biden lacked a simple framework for telling the story of his presidency — of what he accomplished and what he thinks Americans still have left unfinished.” “It strikes a balance and reminds voters of what he inherited during his time in office. It sets out his vision for where he is going.”