Staff Reports
The political mess ignited by President Joe Biden’s appalling debate collapse in late June is more catastrophic than ever, and it’s dragging the entire Democratic Party down like a lead balloon. Democrats, from Washington D.C. to local state operations, are hitting the panic button over Biden being on the ticket. With Trump ready to reclaim his throne as the 2024 Republican nominee, Biden’s sinking reputation could hitch a ride on the Titanic, taking down-ballot candidates with it as voters increasingly doubt he can stomach another term.
It’s not just the talking heads in the GOP slamming the panic button; even Democrats are nibbling their fingernails down to the bone. Rep. Pat Ryan of New York thinks Biden should take a permanent vacation. Meanwhile, Rep. Ritchie Torres, also from New York, is calling for the Democrats to let “cold hard numbers” decide their nominee. On the Left Coast, Rep. Scott Peters is fretting about Biden’s staying power too. The stakes have never been higher, especially with the Senate hanging by a thread at 51-49, a thread already frayed before Biden’s debate disaster. Democrats are desperate to flip four seats for a House majority, and with Biden at the helm, that dream might just be a mirage.
NYT is getting most of the Biden debate ‘disaster’ heat, as it should, but the rest of the MSM is participating.
POLITICO – Since the debate, a Google search of “Politico Biden debate/ News” showed an eye-popping *24 PAGES* of debate articles, most of them by POLITICO. pic.twitter.com/QQjlhGn9lt
— Bad AG Garland Takes (@BadGarlandTakes) July 10, 2024
Scott Peters might not have outright said Biden should exit stage left, but he’s definitely hinting at widespread concern among Democrats. Many are feeling the tension as the debate debacle made an already grim situation even worse. Peters admits swing states were tough before the debate; now, they’re a one-way ticket to catastrophe. Despite solid congressional polls against Biden, Peters isn’t holding his breath that this won’t change if Biden keeps tanking in the approval ratings.
Ritchie Torres isn’t pulling his punches either, issuing statements that sound more like stock market analyses than political rah-rahs. He’s calling for an “unsentimental analysis” of the numbers that really matter: those cold, hard stats. In battleground states like Wisconsin, Biden is not just trailing Trump by 5 points, he’s also lagging 10 points behind Senator Tammy Baldwin. Splitting the ticket might seem like a reasonable gamble, but in today’s hyper-polarized climate, it’s akin to betting the farm.
In the aftermath of Biden’s debate catastrophe, donors are scrambling to plug the leaks in the sinking ship, trying to stave off what looks more like a GOP tsunami, led by Trump, reclaiming both the White House and Congress. Talks of shifting gears to state-level voter engagement are growing louder as national-level strategies seem hopeless.
Democratic pollsters are biting their tongues but can’t hide the grim reality that Biden’s support is eroding faster than the shoreline in a hurricane. Some Democrats may not flip to Trump but opt for third-party candidates or stay home. The political landscape is so polarized that even a 2-3 point swing post-debate is a signal of the iceberg ahead. Down-ballot candidates are gasping for airtime, struggling to get their messages across while every news story harps on Biden’s age and gaffes.
Swing-district Democrats have begun distancing themselves from Biden faster than athletes from a doping scandal. Reps. Jared Golden and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, who represent Trump territory, openly doubt Biden’s ability to win. The list grows, with Rep. Pat Ryan from New York recently joining the chorus calling for Biden to step aside, reflecting broader sentiments among those in vulnerable districts.
Biden’s Capitol Hill defenders are zeroing in on the boogeyman of a second Trump term and the ominous Project 2025 agenda. Rep. Jasmine Crockett’s spirited defence hammers home that the real menace is Trump and his MAGA minions, warning of anti-DEI, anti-woman’s rights, and anti-people of colour policies if Trump returns. It’s a strategy that might sound like a broken record to wary voters.
Still, the question remains: Can negative partisanship quell the fears of anxious Democratic voters? With polls spiralling, bracing for four months of gruelling campaign events featuring Biden doesn’t promise electoral joy come November. Buckle up; it’s going to be one bumpy ride.
