First Lady Jill Biden is hungry. For power. And it might be the primary reason why President Joe Biden, 81, is running in a race that many -- including from his own party -- do not believe he should be running in.
According to Politico, historian Doug Brinkley, a presidential historian and author of "The Unfinished Presidency," recently revealed that he believes Jill Biden loves the power that comes with having a husband in the Oval Office.
His thoughts on the matter came in a recent CBS "Face the Nation" interview with Robert Costa.
Many political observers and pundits have suggested that Jill Biden wields more influence behind the scenes than meets the eye.
Costa asked Brinkley if he believes Jill Biden is playing a central role in her husband's reelection campaign, given that she's seen with him on the campaign trail more often than not.
"But I've noticed, Doug, that Jill Biden, the first lady, has been out front working with the president, urging supporters to rally behind him. Do you believe she's a vital part of the campaign?" Costa asked.
Brinkley responded, "She is the vital part. Dr. Jill Biden is it. You know, if you go back to 1952, Harry Truman could have run, and he didn't. Why? Well, the Korean War and, you know, other reasons. But - but Bess wanted to go back to Independence [Missouri] -- she didn't like it in Washington."
The presidential historian went on to point to other instances of presidents forgoing reelection campaigns due to their wives' influence.
"So, in the Truman, I'm giving you two, Truman could have stayed on, and Johnson, and they both said, no, it's because their wives, their spouse, said enough," Brinkley added, before pointing out the difference with Jill Biden.
"That's not the case with Jill Biden. She likes power. She wants to stay. She wants some sense of revenge. She teaches in Virginia Community College. This milieu around our building here, this is her home," he explained.
"And the idea of relinquishing it all after you've taken the slings and arrows of the last years of attacks, and at the last minute, just when you get all the delegates you're going to say, I'm going to open it up to a bunch of people -- it's very childish when you read those kind of reports."
While Brinkley was being kind about Jill Biden's importance on the campaign trail, others noted that the elderly, often confused President Biden literally wouldn't be able to find his way off of a stage without her help.
Jill Biden, on numerous occasions, has been forced to grab her husband's arm or shoulder and lead him in the appropriate direction.
While that's admirable on a personal level for older couples to help each other out, many believe that shouldn't be the case with a sitting president.
