So, I have mixed feelings here. On one hand, Biden was far, far from an ideal candidate. While the latest non partisan polls still show essentially a tied race (or within the margin of error), it was, at best, going to be very, very close.
Otoh, I, personally, have a very difficult time seeing anyone else being able to appeal to the very …
So, I have mixed feelings here. On one hand, Biden was far, far from an ideal candidate. While the latest non partisan polls still show essentially a tied race (or within the margin of error), it was, at best, going to be very, very close.
Otoh, I, personally, have a very difficult time seeing anyone else being able to appeal to the very few undecided voters left at this point. I suspect this race, like most, will come down to the percentage of the voting population who pays about 3min of attention to the candidates through the year, and then often votes for the most familiar name. And I don't know that there is anyone else, except possibly Harris, with both the name recognition and the popularity to have even the slightest chance of winning in the 3-6 swing states that will decide the race. And I'm concerned even about Harris given that up until very recently, she was usually even less popular, and certainly her accomplishments much less visible, than Biden.
I fear that this means that no matter how well-qualified the new candidate or how well they do among Democrats and left-leaning Independents, there just isn't the time to build the campaign needed to reach those critical, minimally-engaged, swing state voters. I would also really, really like to see Democratic campaigns in general as well as the media start to place more emphasis on Trump's age and cognitive struggles, from his many verbal mixups and flat out babbles nonsense over the last 8 years to the fact that he hasn't released nor even allowed anyone to speak about the head CT done at his ER visit after the shooting. (If, as he alleged, what struck him was actually a rifle bullet, even though it appears pretty much impossible that it "pierced" his ear as he said as opposed to grazing him, there is a chance of brain trauma from such a high-velocity force to the head, which makes it all the more unacceptable that the only "medical report"provided thus far has been from Ronny Johnson/Jackson, who is no longer a licensed physician and almost certainly was not involved in Trump's treatment immediately after the shooting. The fact that the media hasn't emphasized the absence of any actual physician's reports is a huge oversight and seems almost biased.) Political opinions will pretty much stand where they are through November. But given all the attention paid to Biden's cognitive status and age, I really think the same spotlight must be shone on Trump as well.
I would love to see a post on others' thoughts about the different possible nominees and what would be the best strategy to run a campaign in 3 months.
So, I have mixed feelings here. On one hand, Biden was far, far from an ideal candidate. While the latest non partisan polls still show essentially a tied race (or within the margin of error), it was, at best, going to be very, very close.
Otoh, I, personally, have a very difficult time seeing anyone else being able to appeal to the very few undecided voters left at this point. I suspect this race, like most, will come down to the percentage of the voting population who pays about 3min of attention to the candidates through the year, and then often votes for the most familiar name. And I don't know that there is anyone else, except possibly Harris, with both the name recognition and the popularity to have even the slightest chance of winning in the 3-6 swing states that will decide the race. And I'm concerned even about Harris given that up until very recently, she was usually even less popular, and certainly her accomplishments much less visible, than Biden.
I fear that this means that no matter how well-qualified the new candidate or how well they do among Democrats and left-leaning Independents, there just isn't the time to build the campaign needed to reach those critical, minimally-engaged, swing state voters. I would also really, really like to see Democratic campaigns in general as well as the media start to place more emphasis on Trump's age and cognitive struggles, from his many verbal mixups and flat out babbles nonsense over the last 8 years to the fact that he hasn't released nor even allowed anyone to speak about the head CT done at his ER visit after the shooting. (If, as he alleged, what struck him was actually a rifle bullet, even though it appears pretty much impossible that it "pierced" his ear as he said as opposed to grazing him, there is a chance of brain trauma from such a high-velocity force to the head, which makes it all the more unacceptable that the only "medical report"provided thus far has been from Ronny Johnson/Jackson, who is no longer a licensed physician and almost certainly was not involved in Trump's treatment immediately after the shooting. The fact that the media hasn't emphasized the absence of any actual physician's reports is a huge oversight and seems almost biased.) Political opinions will pretty much stand where they are through November. But given all the attention paid to Biden's cognitive status and age, I really think the same spotlight must be shone on Trump as well.
I would love to see a post on others' thoughts about the different possible nominees and what would be the best strategy to run a campaign in 3 months.