Staff Reports
Joe Biden’s reelection campaign is clinging to hope with the same optimism one reserves for finding a sunny spot in Seattle. According to a memo leaked by the Washington Examiner, the Biden camp is banking on winning Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin—states they dub as their clearest stepping stones back to the White House this November. Sure, these states once supported Biden, but it seems they’re now suffering a severe case of buyer’s remorse.
Campaign co-chair Jen O’Malley Dillon and campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez acknowledged the “increased anxiety” among Democrats post-debate with Trump. Apparently, a shaky performance by the sitting president makes voters nervous—who could have guessed? Yet, they insist this hasn’t caused a significant shift in voter preference. The movement detected, they argue, involves previously undecided voters warming up to Trump. Still, they’re convinced that Democratic loyalists are merely “undecided” rather than jumping ship to the Republican side.
Washington Examiner: Biden campaign clings to hope in three states while keeping door open for Harris https://t.co/Kifgp4EWFY
— Ian Hansen 🇺🇸🇺🇸 (@IanHansenFeed) July 11, 2024
Despite their bravado, Dillon and Chavez Rodriguez conceded one pesky detail: Biden isn’t leading in those blue wall states. Their polling suggests a dead heat, conveniently described as “within the margin-of-error.” Because nothing inspires voter confidence quite like a race too close to call.
The Biden campaign remains mum on internal whispers about polling Vice President Kamala Harris against Trump—a clear sign some Democrats are trying to find the “stop-loss” button for 2024. That’s right, there’s enough internal doubt that they’re considering if Harris could do a better job—and if that doesn’t scream desperation, what does?
Publicly, the team dismisses any such hypothetical polling, calling it unreliable. They’re also blaming the “fragmented media environment” for failing to deliver their messages effectively, letting everyone know it’s not their policy shortcomings but the media’s fault. They highlighted the importance of painting Trump’s second-term priorities as extreme, which, we’re all supposed to believe, is going to make voters forget about Biden’s bumbling presidency.
In a final flourish of optimism, the dynamic duo from Biden’s camp argue voters aren’t deterred by the president’s age. They insist voters are laser-focused on issues—presumably the same issues where they think Biden is trouncing Trump. According to them, viewers tuned into the debates aware of Biden’s age but left re-remembering their disdain for Trump.
Bottom line, they acknowledge the debate was a setback but claim Biden and his campaign have weathered storms before. They’re cutting through the fog with a clear-eyed aim to unify the party by focusing on the common goal of defeating Trump. It’s the political equivalent of hoping duct tape can fix a crumbling dam.
