Veteran Democratic strategist James Carville stated that former President Joe Biden's refusal to withdraw from the 2024 presidential election until late in the cycle inflicted lasting damage on the Democratic Party. Carville asserted on his "Politics War Room" podcast that had Biden exited the race in October 2023, a Democratic president would have won.
"So, the reason the Democratic Party is in the shape it is, is because Joe Biden wouldn't get out until July the 21st of the election year, alright?" Carville said. "Had Joe Biden gotten out in October of 2023, we would have a Democratic president. Don't kid yourself."
Carville also noted that members of the party's left wing, who he has often criticized, did not speak out against Biden's re-election bid. "And by the way, all the people on the left who say the Democrats don't fight hard enough never said a word about Biden running for re-election. Not any of them. They all fell into line."
Despite Carville's past criticisms of the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, he suggested that the party's current predicament stems from a desire for change that was not adequately addressed. "We lost because people wanted a change election and we didn't give it to them," he said.
CNN senior analyst Ron Brownstein, who also appeared on the podcast, agreed that Biden's continued candidacy likely reduced the party's chances. "I'm not as I'm not as certain that Democrats could have won even if he got out," Brownstein replied. "But there's no question that him staying in reduced their chances further."
Brownstein suggested that for Democrats to succeed in future elections, the party's center must demonstrate a learned response to past failures and a commitment to actively challenge the "MAGA movement." "If the center wants to win in '28, they're going to have to show two things: they've learned from the past, and they are committed to fighting the MAGA movement with greater energy," he said. "I don't think '26 proves that the left is going to win in '28, but it shows that the center is going to have to fight to maintain control of the party."
Carville expressed difficulty in adjusting to the current political landscape and the influence of certain factions within the party. Fox News Digital reached out to Biden for comment but did not immediately receive a response.