Here we go again! Joe Biden, 81, and Donald Trump, 77, seal nominations for White House run-off

Joe Biden and Donald Trump made a November rematch certain on Monday by sealing their parties’ presidential nominations in the latest round of state contests.

The results in Georgia, Mississippi and Washington state set up the first rematch between two previous candidates since 1956, and the first election since 1912 to feature a sitting and former president.

It will also make history for featuring the two oldest candidates by far, including one who could potentially be in jail by November — and polls show most Americans are unhappy with the choice on offer.

President Biden, 81, previewed the unusually long general election campaign to come by accusing his Republican rival of “running a campaign of resentment, revenge and retribution that threatens the very idea of America”.

The Democrat added: “I am honoured that the broad coalition of voters representing the rich diversity of the Democratic Party across the country have put their faith in me once again to lead our party — and our country — in a moment when the threat Trump poses is greater than ever.”

On his Truth Social platform, former president Mr Trump, 77, also said he was honoured as he made sure of being selected as the Republicans’ nominee for a third time. “Our Party is UNITED and STRONG, and fully understands that we are running against the Worst, Most Incompetent, Corrupt, and Destructive President in the History of the United States,” he wrote.

In his post, Mr Trump highlighted two issues that threaten Mr Biden’s chances on November 5: the millions of migrants who have crossed the US-Mexico border, and the state of the economy.

Much like in Britain, the economy is slowly recovering from the pandemic but inflation and interest rates remain relatively high, leading to many voters feeling further left behind, especially in white and working-class America. But the Republican has his own bigger challenges ahead between now and November as he wrestles with 91 indictments in four criminal cases including a looming federal trial related to his dishonest claims that the 2020 election was stolen by Mr Biden.

Mr Trump’s lawyers have been working overtime to delay the various proceedings until after the election, and he denies all the charges.

The first-ever trial of a former US president looms on March 25 when a state court in Manhattan is set to start jury selection, to examine charges that he paid $130,000 to porn star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election to buy her silence over an alleged affair.

But his legal team this week asked the New York judge to postpone the hush-money trial until the US Supreme Court can review Mr Trump’s claim in a separate case that he enjoys presidential immunity from prosecution.

The outcome of Tuesday’s state contests was not in doubt with neither President Biden nor Mr Trump facing major opposition, following the withdrawal of the last serious Republican challenger, Nikki Haley.

By Wednesday morning, Mr Biden had 2,107 pledged Democratic delegates and Mr Trump was on at least 1,241 committed Republican delegates — both comfortably across the winning line they need to be nominated at their party conventions this summer.

But the results also underlined potential November weaknesses for both candidates. In Georgia, despite having suspended her campaign, Ms Haley still won more than 77,000 votes drawn mostly from college-educated suburban voters.

In 2020, Mr Trump lost the state by just over 12,000 votes, and he is struggling to win back centrist Americans.

Mr Biden, meanwhile, continues to be dogged by anger among some Democrats over his support for Israel.

In Seattle, teacher Bella Rivera, 26, said the “uncommitted” vote against Mr Biden should serve as a wake-up call for the Democrats.

In Georgia, retiree Donna Graham said she was backing Mr Trump but stressed: “It’s sad that it’s the same old match-up as four years ago.”