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oe Biden has been running for president for 40 years, which has to be some kind of record. His ambition to be president has perhaps only been surpassed by former Minnesota governor Harold Stassen.
Stassen was elected governor at age 31 in 1938 and was immediately anointed as “the future” of the Republican Party. He ran for the GOP presidential nomination in 1944, losing to Tom Dewey, and then again in 1948, 1952, 1964, 1968, 1980, 1984, 1988, and 1992.
Stassen allowed his ambition to be president to overshadow what was a relatively successful career as governor. In the end, he became the butt of jokes — fodder for late-night comedians.
Biden was also elected to high office at a young age. He was 30 when he was sworn in as a Delaware senator and was pegged, like Stassen, as the future of his party. But like Stassen, Biden allowed his ambition to dictate his career. He ran unsuccessfully for president in 1988, and despite being mentioned prominently as a candidate in later years, it wasn’t until 2008 that Biden made another serious run for the nomination. Despite his failure, Barack Obama needed a “moderate” to “balance the ticket” and ended up choosing Biden.
Biden’s overweening ambition to be president was fulfilled largely because he was the last man standing in 2020. Now, Biden’s ambition has taken flight again. Perhaps seeing the writing on the wall that 2024 is out of the question, he’s now trying to build his legacy.
