US President Joe Biden has formally announced he is running for re-election in 2024, asking voters to give him more time to “finish the job” – with Vice President Kamala Harris right by his side.
The announcement of his run for the 2024 election comes four years to the day since he declared his initial bid for the White House by promising to heal the “soul of the nation” amid the turbulent administration of former president Donald Trump.
Already the oldest president in history – Mr Biden would be 86 at the end of a second term.
Mr Biden said in a pre-recorded video message that personal freedom is fundamental to being American as there is nothing more important or sacred.
In a statement on Twitter, Vice President Kamala Harris said Americans believe in freedom and liberty-and we believe that the nation’s democracy will only be as strong as the citizen’s willingness to fight for it.
A notable swath of Democratic voters have indicated they would prefer he not run, in part because of his age – concerns Mr Biden himself has called “totally legitimate”.
A recent poll from The Associated Press-NORC Centre for Public Affairs Research showed just 47% of Democrats said they wanted him to seek a second term, up from 37% in February.
It comes a day after he told journalists of his intention to go for re-election