Joe Biden has reportedly become more open in recent days to hearing arguments that he should step aside as the Democratic presidential candidate after the party’s two main congressional leaders told him they doubted his ability to beat Donald Trump.
While continuing to insist he will be the party’s nominee in November, the president has reportedly started asking questions about negative polling data and whether Vice-President Kamala Harris, considered the favourite to replace him if were to withdraw, fares better.
The indications of a possible rethink come after Biden tested positive on Wednesday for Covid-19, forcing him to isolate for several days while curtailing a campaigning visit to Nevada that had been part of a drive to show his candidacy was very much alive.
It also coincides with fresh polling data showing that he now trails Trump by two points in Virginia, a state he won by 10 points in 2020.
Calling it now: He’s slowly working up to dropping out without “losing face”
Step one: Casually mention in an interview that you’d consider dropping if a health reason popped up. Step two: Coincidentally, get a health issue shortly afterwards. Step three: Casually make it known that you’re “more open” to call to step aside.
It’s not a coincidence that he got COVID and made the health comment within a day of each other. I’m not saying he doesn’t have COVID. I’m saying he and his team knew about earlier than they announced it, and decided to drop that nugget in an interview beforehand in order to pave the way.
I mean it could be a coincidence though. Biden is religious and it’s likely that he’d see getting sick immediately after saying something like that as a sign.
I’m a cynical bastard who’s convinced that no politician is truly religious any more than they need to be to keep up appearances to the voters.