We are living in unique times. With a war between Russia and much of the rest of the world being fought on Ukrainian soil, another between Israel and the Muslim world being fought in Gaza, a U.S. presidential candidate nearly assassinated, and a sitting American president withdrawing from the race for the White House, it's hard to find events that top what is happening these days.
However, what is happening in American politics overshadows even the ongoing wars. Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the presidential race "in the interest of the party and the country," as he argued, completely resets the electoral race. Since last year, when he began his campaign, Trump based his campaign on a violent attack on Joe Biden's age and his inability to complete the current mandate, let alone a second one! Indeed, Biden was the oldest candidate for the White House in U.S. history. At 81 years old, it was visibly difficult for him to express himself or even orient himself in space. Frequent mistakes he made, names or people, events that existed only in his imagination, fueled Trump's and the Republicans' attacks. Much of their campaign focused on this subject. If Biden is now unable to fulfill his presidential duties, how will he cope in 2-3 years when he approaches 85 years old?
Well, Biden's withdrawal and his replacement with Kamala Harris deprives Trump and the Republicans of their main attack theme. Moreover, his rhetoric turns against him because, at 78, Trump is no spring chicken either and overnight he became the oldest candidate.
After the emotion and surprise of Biden’s withdrawal announcement passed, people began to carefully look at whether this change at the White House was not a plan the Democrats had been hatching for some time. There are signs that it was. The fact that a debate between the two candidates happened so early is quite atypical for how campaigns unfold in the U.S. At the time of the debate, neither candidate had gone through the national conventions to officially confirm them as their parties' candidates. Furthermore, the fact that the Democrats accepted such a debate knowing that President Biden was not in the best shape for such a trial is proof that the power brokers among the Democrats wanted to have a final argument in discussions with Joe Biden. Additionally, they gave Trump the opportunity to dig further into the political grave of an elderly candidate, highlighting again that he is incapable of finishing even the current term without humiliations, a grave in which Trump himself should end up.
The Democrats allowed this humiliation to happen and did not make the leadership change until the Republican Convention confirmed Trump as their candidate. Only at that moment did they act and convince Biden to drop the race. Now, probably the Republicans no longer see Trump as a rightful winner and probably have second thoughts because they know there is a significant category, even within their own party, of ABT (Anyone But Trump) who probably would not have voted for Biden but will vote for Harris or someone else. If they had more time, the Republicans would probably try a similar move to that of the Democrats, but the window of opportunity has closed.
So now, they will have to try to moderate Donald Trump's language (impossible!) and try to bring him more to the center from the extreme where he was parading until now. But Harris can access electoral segments that Biden couldn't (suburban women, ethnic and sexual minorities) which can prove decisive in the balance of the electoral race. We still don't know how Harris will perform in debates, but it is certain she cannot perform worse than Biden, and it is even more certain that any suburban attack by Trump on her will backfire on the Republican candidate.
So, will Donald Trump fill the pit he dug for Joe Biden? We will see. Stay close!
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