Top Democrats have roundly shrugged off bestselling self-help author Marianne Williamson’s nascent campaign, but her allies are optimistic that she has a path for an upset.
Keenly aware of the uphill battle before them, Williamson’s team is banking on President Joe Biden’s history of fumbling in early primary states as well as her charisma, in order to undercut his expected coronation. Williamson became the first higher-profile Democrat to officially jump into the 2024 Democratic field Saturday.
MARIANNE WILLIAMSON LAUNCHES 2024 CAMPAIGN WITH ATTACK ON ECONOMY
“I love a longshot candidate,” Carlos Cardona, the New Hampshire state director for the Williamson campaign, told the Washington Examiner. “They keep calling her a long shot, but it’s because they’re scared of the system that she’s gonna disrupt. We know that underdogs perform very well, especially in the first primary states.”
Cardona sees the Granite State as a golden opportunity for Williamson given Biden’s recent push to dethrone it from its perch as the first Democratic primary election state. Local leaders have pushed back hard, but the Democratic National Committee appears poised to supplant it with South Carolina nonetheless.
“Joe Biden has made it very crystal clear that New Hampshire is not a priority to him. So I think Granite Staters are opening their hearts up to the possibility of other candidates coming into the Granite State,” he said.
Biden clinched a lackluster fifth place in New Hampshire in the 2020 primary. His campaign appeared to be on life support afterward until the South Carolina election, a state now poised to lead off the primary process.
After the Palmetto State, the Democratic primary is then set to turn to New Hampshire and Nevada, which are jointly slated to be the second primary election.
“Joe Biden doesn’t have the energy. The Republicans don’t have the same amount of energy as someone like that. So she can bring the people out and she’ll be able to win,” New Hampshire state Rep. Jonah Wheeler (D) said.
Her campaign debut was met with hundreds of supporters clustered in Union Station, Washington, D.C. Attendees included YouTubers Krystal Ball, co-host of Breaking Points, and Kyle Kulinski, host of the Kyle Kulinski Show.
Williamson did not mention Biden by name during her speech, but referenced his victory in 2020, contending that while “we didn’t go over the cliff,” the country is “still six inches away from it.” Many in attendance were lukewarm on Biden — not fiercely opposed, but craving someone with more progressive ambitions and charm.
“I think Biden is doing an OK job. But I think Marianne is willing to push it further,” attendee Nathan Russell said. “I think that even if it’s Marianne running, then you have someone at least trying to change what’s happening.”
“She’s bold. And I think that in a political climate that we have today, boldness in the right way is necessary for change,” added attendee Breje Williams.
Supporters also acknowledged that Williamson is entering the political fray as an underdog.
“It’s going to be a bit of an uphill [contest],” attendee Liz Beth said. “But you know what Trump got in and that was a surprise. We’re open to surprises. This will be a better surprise.”
Despite the odds, they were eager to see the Democratic “establishment” challenged by someone. But not everyone there had an ironclad commitment to her candidacy.
“It’s nice seeing someone from the Democratic Party running against the incumbent president,” Mohammad Aqil said. “I don’t think I prefer her over Biden just yet. But I do want to see what she has to say.”
One audience member named Jake, who declined to provide his last name, identified himself as a Biden supporter there for kicks.
“He’s a serious person,” Jake said. “Some of the things that she said when she ran in 2020 were a little offputting. I think it’s also very weird to be challenging an incumbent Democratic president of your own party.”
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In the 2020 cycle, Williamson made a splash for her unorthodox campaign and advocacy for a politics of love. She ultimately dropped out before the nomination primaries and caucuses got underway. She then endorsed Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT).
Following her campaign launch Saturday, Williamson will barnstorm South Carolina, New Hampshire, Nevada, and Michigan. Biden has yet to declare his reelection bid but has said he “intends” to and is reportedly eyeing an announcement in April.
