80% of Democrats want Biden to debate his primary opponents, he’s a ‘no’ so far

A USA Today/Suffolk University poll found that 80% of Democratic primary voters believe there should be a series of Democratic presidential primary debates ahead of the 2024 election. But as of right now, President Biden has no plans to debate his two opponents: author Marianne Williamson and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. 

“Well I would love to participate in a debate if President Biden participates in a debate. I think it’s wrong that he’s not going to participate,” Kennedy told Rising on The Hill. 

According to the survey of registered voters:

• RFK Jr. is polling at nearly 15%.
• President Biden is polling at 58%.
• Williamson is polling at about 6%.
• 20% of Democratic primary voters are undecided. 

While it’s not a perfect comparison given President Biden is an incumbent, candidates in the Republican primary need to be polling at 1% to earn a spot on the debate stage. 

No incumbent president has debated a primary opponent since Gerald Ford, but Kennedy and Williamson are both calling for Biden to debate them. 

“I think if he doesn’t feel that he can debate it’s not good because there’s so many people in this country who feel the system is rigged,” Kennedy said.  

Williamson wrote an op-ed for Newsweek titled “Debate us, Mr. President.” 

“Biden officials and their minions have used mainstream news platforms to spread the word far and wide: There will be no debates, nor any further discussion about it. Candidates other than the chosen one anointed by the DNC should take their toys and go home now,” Williamson said. 

If there is a debate, COVID vaccines would be one of the biggest points of contention. President Biden based his pandemic policy on vaccinating as many Americans as possible. 

“It’s incredibly effective. But the truth is not enough people are getting it. We have to change that,” the president said when he received a booster in October 2022. 

RFK Jr. participates in what he calls “safe vaccine activism,” but he is often called an anti-vaxxer. He has long claimed childhood vaccines have led to a rise in autism; a theory that has been disproven.