Biden faces growing number of potential challengers

President Biden, already struggling with broad unpopularity and growing concerns among Democrats about his standing, is now facing an expanding list of declared or potential challengers who could further complicate his effort to win a second term and defeat leading rival Donald Trump.

On Thursday, Jill Stein, blamed by some Democrats for helping to funnel votes away from Hillary Clinton in 2016, announced another presidential bid in 2024 as the Green Party candidate. And later in the day, Senator Joe Manchin III, Democrat of West Virginia — who has openly flirted with the idea of mounting a third-party presidential bid challenging Biden and the eventual GOP nominee — announced he was retiring from the Senate and would spend the coming months traveling the country to gauge “if there is an interest in creating a movement to mobilize the middle and bring Americans together.’’

Biden also faces nettlesome campaign opponents in Representative Dean Phillips, Democrat of Minnesota — who recently launched a Democratic primary challenge declaring that “it’s time for a new generation” — and from Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who after flirting with a primary campaign is running as an independent in the general election.

The growing field of challengers presents, at the very least, another headache for Biden, who has been shown to be tied with or even trailing Trump in both national and swing-state polls.

Biden and his allies have pointed to promising election results during his term — “polls don’t vote, people do” has become a mantra — including the strong showing that Democrats had Tuesday night. The party took full control of the Virginia Legislature, retained the Kentucky governor’s office, and won a key ballot initiative in Ohio.

All were powered by an electorate animated by protecting abortion rights.

Biden himself bristled Thursday when asked why he’s trailing Trump in a series of swing-state polls.

“Because you don’t read the polls,’’ he said. “Ten polls. Eight of them, I’m beating him in those places. Eight of them. You guys only do two. CNN and New York Times. Check it out. Check it out.’’

Asked whether he didn’t believe he’s trailing in battleground states, he responded, “No, I don’t.’’