Our most recent book is titled Divided We Stand: The 2020 Elections and American Politics. The 2024 race has begun. It is a fight between two very old men.
Jonathan V. Last: "When people say Biden is `old' what they mean is `frail.' Trump is functionally the same age as Biden, with a muc worse BMI and cognitive functioning. But because Trump can yell at the moon like a mad dog, people see him as `vigorous' and age isn’t a problem."
President Biden hoped to build fresh momentum for his re-election bid by agreeing to debate nearly two months before he is to be formally nominated. Instead, his halting and disjointed performance on Thursday night prompted a wave of panic among Democrats and reopened discussion of whether he should be the nominee at all.
Over the course of 90 minutes, a raspy-voiced Mr. Biden struggled to deliver his lines and counter a sharp though deeply dishonest former President Donald J. Trump, raising doubts about the incumbent president’s ability to wage a vigorous and competitive campaign four months before the election. Rather than dispel concerns about his age, Mr. Biden, 81, made it the central issue.
Democrats who have defended the president for months against his doubters — including members of his own administration — traded frenzied phone calls and text messages within minutes of the start of the debate as it became clear that Mr. Biden was not at his sharpest. Practically in despair, some took to social media to express shock, while others privately discussed among themselves whether it was too late to persuade the president to bow out in favor of a younger candidate.
Morning-after thermonuclear beat downs from my race from the debate and polling geniuses like 538 predicted l’d lose by 2.
— John Fetterman (@JohnFetterman) June 28, 2024
And what happened?
The only seat to flip and won by a historic margin (+5).
Chill the fuck out.
An interesting interaction just now. @FarnoushAmiri asked Jeffries if Biden is the most effective messenger for democrats given what the New York democrat described as existential stakes.
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) June 28, 2024
“President Biden is scheduled to speak today around noon, as I understand it, in North…
