It’s never a good time for a campaign when you’re spending all of your time trying to convince your supporters that you’re mentally fit enough for the job. That’s what the campaign of President Joe Biden is forced to do, and it couldn’t happen to a more deserving person. But, thankfully for Republicans, it doesn’t look like Biden is going anywhere, no matter what.
If you’re subscribed to Democratic Party fundraising emails there is one thing you’ve noticed since Joe Biden’s 90 minute “senior moment” in the debate and it’s the desperation. It’s never a good look when you’re spending your campaign time trying to reassure your supporters not only that you’re staying in the race, but that you have the mental capacity to do so. When dealing with supporters, that would not need to be said, yet that is almost all Democrats have been saying.
And no one is saying more often than Biden himself.
In an email with the subject line, “I’m running,” the President opens the email with, “I know the past few days have been tough. I'm sure you're getting a lot of questions. I'm sure many of you have questions as well. So, let me say this as clearly and simply as I can: I'm running. I'm the Democratic Party’s nominee. No one is pushing me out. I'm not leaving, I'm in this race to the end, and WE are going to win this election.”
Imagine having to try to convince your spouse that you aren’t looking to divorce them. If you put those words in that context, that would not bode well for the future of your marriage. It’s pretty much the same when it comes to Biden and the nomination.
Joe continues, “I've been knocked down and counted out my whole life. I'm sure the same is true for many of you. But my father had an expression. He said, ‘Champ, it’s not how many times you get knocked down. It’s how quickly you get up.’’
So, Joe’s dad had a saying that has been around forever, and even used in Rocky movies? Is there anything genuine about Joe Biden?
The answer, obviously, is no.
Another email from Joe reads, “I'm in this race to the end. I would not be running again if I didn’t believe with all my heart and soul that I can do this job. Because, quite frankly, the stakes are too high.”
Yet another opens with, “I know you’ve been hearing a lot from the pundits and politicians this week about my debate performance. You may even be tuning into my interview with George Stephanopoulous (sic) tonight. I really believe what I told him. I am staying in this race. And I would not be running again if I didn’t believe with all my heart and soul that I can do this job. Because, quite frankly, the stakes are too high.”
Yes, they misspelled “Stephanopoulos.” You can’t make this up.
The main focus of Joe Biden’s fundraising pitches since the debate have been trying to make the case to supporters that he’s not going to drop out, that he’s running no matter what. That’s not a good look.
All it does is remind Democrats of just how for gone his mind is. It’s not that Joe has “lost a step or two,” it’s that he has that look on his face that everyone who has had a family member suffering mental decline gets. It’s that mouth agape, eyes unfocused and confuse, “I’m not really sure what I’m looking at or why I’m here” look.
I don’t write that to mock Joe – it’s a horrible thing that happens to some people in the end stages of life – but to point out how he’s not fully there all the time, yet.
He does have moments of lucidity, which is how he’s able to make the case that he’s staying. They’re getting fewer and father in between, but they do still exist. The vacant looks does go away for a bit, it’s just less often and for shorter periods of time.
The fact is Joe Biden isn’t senile to the point that he can’t make a case against his senility, on occasion. As long as he can do that, he’s not going anywhere. For Donald Trump and Republicans up and down the ballot, that’s just about the best thing they could hope for.