Marianne Williamson launches longshot 2024 challenge to Biden in Washington
PBS NewsHourOct 09, 2022
The Facts
On Saturday, Marianne Williamson, a self-help author and one-time spiritual adviser to Oprah Winfrey, formally announced her bid for the 2024 presidential nomination — the first Democrat to announce a challenge to US Pres. Joe Biden, who has said he intends to run for re-election but has yet to announce it officially.
Previously, Williamson attempted to run for the nomination in the 2020 election, proposing a Department of Peace and reparations to Black Americans. She dropped out of the race before it officially started with the Iowa caucuses.
The Spin
Establishment-critical narrative
While Williamson may not be the likely candidate, she may be the fresh perspective that the country needs. She recognizes an economic system that perpetuates inequality and has concrete ideas to fix it. More importantly, she's shown herself able to challenge the status quo and disrupt the system that has become dangerously reliant on the deeply-entrenched politicians that are the force behind America's growing problems.
Pro-establishment narrative
Although polls show that Democrats may seek an alternative to Biden, Williamson isn't a credible option, and she has no chance of winning. At best, she's erroneously attempting to make a positive difference, but at worst — and a more likely scenario — she's merely trying to self-promote. Either way, her campaign is nothing but a cult of personality that deserves no attention from the Democratic party or the media.