Will2024 be a rerun between Trump and Biden?
If Trump indeed runs against Biden again, in a rematch of the 2020 presidential election, it will be rare occurrence — but not unprecedented. In 1836, Vice President Martin Van Buren, a Democrat, won in his race against William Henry Harrison of the Whig party, and was elected America’s eighth president. But just four years later, Van Buren found himself facing the same opponent. Harrison made the economy the focus of his campaign, mocking the “Van Ruin” administration for the 1837 economic crisis. This time, Harrison was victorious.
Grover Cleveland, who was America’s 22nd and 24th president, presents an even more relevant comparison. He was elected in 1884, but lost his 1888 reelection bid to Republican Benjamin Harrison (a grandson of the ninth president). But Cleveland did not give up, and ran against Harrison again in 1892. This time, he won.
But running a second time does not necessarily guarantee victory. William Bryan, for example, ran twice against William McKinley, the 25th president, and lost. Adlai Stevenson lost twice against Dwight D. Eisenhower.
What will happen in 2024?
Trump is meanwhile keeping his cards close to his chest, making it difficult for potential rivals such as Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley to prepare, because they would certainly not want to run against Trump.
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