Benjamin Disraeli once wrote that there is no gambling like politics, and it appears that the contemporary Democratic Party is taking that sentiment to heart. While they publicly tout President Biden as a beloved leader with a pristine soul and a panoply of accomplishments, in private, they must recognize that his policies have failed, and he is too old and untrustworthy to run the White House for much longer. Despite this, the Democrats are betting it all on Biden, hoping that he will be the best candidate to take on the Republicans’ likely nominee, Donald Trump.
However, there are many ways in which Biden’s candidacy could collapse. Democrats are reportedly worried that his age and fragility could lead to a devastating public tumble that would instantly kill his bid. Even if he avoids a catastrophic event, running for president is difficult, and it will be clear from his ineloquence and confusion if he is not up to the task of campaigning. Furthermore, unforeseen events such as stubborn inflation, interest rate hikes, a recession, ill-timed chaos at the border, or rolling power outages caused by green zealotry could all tip the scales against him.
While Biden may be slightly less unpopular than his most likely opponent, Donald Trump, this is not a strong enough slogan to carry him to victory. If he faces a different Republican nominee such as DeSantis, Scott, or Pence, the Democrats’ bet on Biden as the anointed Trump-killer could backfire. It would be ironic for them to invest everything in his second act, only to watch as a younger, less damaged candidate accepts the Republicans’ invitation and barnstorms around the country reading from a wholly different script.
The Republicans have also taken a gamble by putting the guy who lost the last election at the top of the public opinion polls. Both parties have decided that everything is at stake, and they can afford to live a little dangerously. Come Election Night 2024, Americans will be anxiously watching as the political casino plays out, knowing that in the long run, we’re all going bankrupt anyway.
