AOC Isn't a Reliable Barometer of Democratic Support for President Biden

New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez made headlines over the weekend when during an interview with CNN's Dana Bash she would not commit to supporting President Biden for a second term. 

After Bash repeatedly pressed AOC on the matter all she would say that she will "take a look it" after the mid-terms. CNN's Chris Cillizza wrote:

What Biden could use right now then is a little thing called party unity. Except he's not getting that either. AOC is perhaps the most high profile progressive in the country and her public wavering speaks to a broader discontent with liberals for Biden and how he has conducted his presidency. (AOC endorsed Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders in the 2020 presidential primary fight.)

AOC's response to Bash will further fuel discussions about Biden's weakened political position and raise further questions about whether he will -- or should -- run again in 2024. And that's a losing conversation for Biden as he tries to hit the reset button on his presidency.

Nonsense.

I would be worried if someone like South Carolina Democratic Congressman Jim Clyburn had expressed such hesitancy.  After all, it was his endorsement which brought Biden back from the dead.

But AOC has never been a Biden fan. In April 2019, AOC indicated the prospect of a Biden White House bid "does not particularly animate me." When asked about the prospect of a Biden presidency in a New York Magazine profile of AOC published in January 2020, AOC made a point of stating, “Oh God. In any other country, Joe Biden and I would not be in the same party, but in America, we are.” I believe there is some truth to that statement. In Canada, Biden would probably be a Liberal while AOC would be part of the NDP or perhaps the Green Party. 

It is true that AOC did end up supporting Biden in the 2020 election, but it was a rather tepid endorsement. When she urged progressives to vote for Biden in October 2020, AOC made a point of noting it was "a tactical vote" adding, "This isn't always about support for the candidate." AOC endorsed Biden with the back of her hand.

Let us also consider that AOC was among the few Democrats who opposed President Biden's infrastructure bill. In view of these facts, we must conclude that AOC isn't a reliable barometer of Democratic support for President Biden and her refusal to endorse him in 2024 should come as a shock to no one.

This isn't to say President Biden doesn't have his work cut out for him amid high gas prices and inflation. But these are challenges facing every other industrialized country whatever their current political stripe. 

Should Biden be re-elected in 2024 we can look back at AOC's comments and remark on their insignificance.