Posted on 07/19/2024 4:06:21 AM PDT by DoodleBob
Hit by a rolling series of punches — the turmoil after President Biden's disastrous debate, the drip-drip-drip of damaging leaks from congressional allies, and now a campaign-stalling case of COVID — people who work inside the Biden campaign are discouraged and uncertain about what lies ahead.
Harris hits the campaign trail in North Carolina as Biden isolates for COVID "We can't catch a break,” a Biden adviser said, speaking on condition of anonymity to frankly describe private conversations.
Ever since Biden faltered in his debate three weeks ago against former President Donald Trump, the bad news just keeps coming — much of it from unnamed sources who are supposed to be allies of their team, the adviser said.
Not enough momentum 'to get us back on solid footing'
While there have been some positive moments for the president since the debate, “They haven't been enough to get us back on solid footing," the adviser said.
Biden had been gaining a bit of a momentum, giving energetic rallies in three "Blue Wall" states, culminating in a fired-up retooled stump speech in Detroit on Friday, where supporters chanted, "Don't you quit!"
But Biden's private meetings with top congressional leaders last week were sobering, and then there were the leaks from gatherings with rank-and-file Democratic lawmakers worried that Biden’s political woes will be toxic for their own races.
"In moments of crisis, you really get to know a lot about people," the adviser said.
Biden, a long-time senator, is pragmatic about the political calculations that lawmakers are making, the adviser said.
Top Democrats in Washington are carefully avoiding denying reports that they have called for President Biden to step aside as the party's nominee for president.
But the president bristled in one meeting last weekend when Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo., suggested, in a respectful tone, that Americans were losing sleep because they were worried about the national security risks associated with an aging president.
Biden replied: "'Listen: if you have to come out against me, do whatever you need to do. But don't you dare say that Americans don't feel safe because of this,’" the adviser recounted.
This adviser said Biden showed no signs during that meeting and others of any cracks in his resolve to stay in the race — and said it’s not yet clear whether the pile-up of woes has reached a tipping point for the president.
In a July 6 letter, obtained by NPR on Thursday, Rep. Jamie Raskin recounted Biden's achievements, and used a metaphor about a 2003 baseball loss faced by Red Sox pitcher Pedro Martinez when he stayed in the game too long.
“There is no shame in taking a well-deserved bow to the overflowing appreciation of the crowd when your arm is tired out, and there is real danger for the team in ignoring the statistics," Raskin warned.
'What campaign team is going to rise from the ashes?'
Perhaps there is still a way for Democrats to unite behind a concise message, and Biden, the adviser said. But now, even Democrats who back Biden find themselves parsing his speeches and interviews for trips and flubs. His trademark gaffes are now are seen in a new light.
But if Biden drops out, that opens the door to a compressed “Hunger Games” race within the party for choosing a new leader, the adviser said. There's little time, and will be little organization.
While the adviser sees strong future candidates on the Democratic bench, they have not been battle-tested. The adviser noted that some of the best and brightest Republican prospects fell flat when they went against Trump.
"What campaign team is going to rise from the ashes?" the adviser asked.
“It's gonna be ugly. it's gonna be dirty. It's gonna be messy.”
Let me help them. Polish up your resume and send it to Kamala.
No nor, that is right. You can’t catch a break as everything unravels after hitching your cart behind the Hounds of hell- that is what happens, eventually the sins become exposed, and the party crumbles
“...“It’s gonna be ugly. it’s gonna be dirty. It’s gonna be messy.”...”
Well, that’s the Conservatives’ impression of the last Presidential ‘election” and subsequent administration.
The problem for the Dems now is not just losing POTUS.
When you get a huge win as POTUS you also get a big sweep in the down ballot tickets.
The Dems could lose the Senate.
The GOP could gain in their majority in the house.
The GOP could gain Governors.
The GOP could gain in State Representative seats.
All the way down to the local dog catcher.
This is what the Dems really fear could happen IF they leave Biden in. A literal blood bath.
It still surprises me that NH is light Blue on their maps.
I drive around my area and I see almost only Trump signs.
I think I have only seen one Biden sign.
What I have seen are signs that say:
Vote Blue No Matter Who
The Biden problem for Dems:
The GOP could gain in their House majority.
The GOP could gain Governors.
The GOP could gain State Representative seats.
Gains all the way downticket to local dog catcher.
There’s the politics of Biden and then the reality of Biden.
They simply should have 25th’d Biden after the debate. The most clean and simple solution to the Biden issue.
But it never looked to be a serious consideration when everyone who has eyes and ears can see Biden can’t do the job. The flaw to the 25th Amendment is it assumes people will put country over politics.
Maybe the cyber outage was caused by a torrent of resumes being posted to Linkdin from the White House?
They are the ones who foolishly decided to run a brain-dead zombie l, not us. Your choice, live with it.
Democrats never suspect their policies suck. No self reflection on their part, ever.
You win Post of the Thread.
Can’t catch a break? You’ve had a break every day of your life, you filthy rotten scoundrel, Joe!!
He couldn’t even get in the car.
Very well said.
That Biden dude is real drag man.
Biden could still blurt out the “N” word on mic any day now.
He is a walking verbal minefield.
“The flaw to the 25th Amendment is it assumes people will put country over politics.”
The flaw to the 25th amendment is it assumes the Vice President has an IQ higher than a pet rock.
Let's go Brandon.
If Biden runs the GOP won't have any problem finding shocking sound bites.
The proper -- if not the only response to this comment is:
"Very well. I won't "dare say" American's don't feel safe because of you ... but understand that it's true."
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