Democrats

  • Harris edges out Trump

    The American election is hotting up, with Biden out the way and Harris out in front. She leads her Republican opponent by 3 points, according to Redfield and Wilton Strategies.

    Her running mate, Tim Walz, has a 35% favourability rating among Americans. Her decision to run with him has landed her headlines and a bounce among Democrats, according to reports.

    However, they fall either side of typical dividing lines. It looks Trump is a clear winner on issues he talks about, and likewise Harris. It’s apparent the stump is the place to be in this election cycle.

  • Joe Biden ends his campaign

    Joe Biden has written his resignation letter and dropped out of the race for the American presidency. It leaves the door open for Trump to assume a second term or for an insurgent Democrat candidate to take the reins.

    It isn’t clear who it is yet.

    The fact is Biden is walking away from his first and only term in office with a few records behind him but a tumultuous election campaign that has been cut short. Trump was shot at and he got Covid.

    It’s not a good look for America at this time.

    At the end of his letter Biden signed off with a short message to the American people. It doesn’t strike a despondent tone but it does suggest he feels disillusioned with any distraction that takes focus away.

    “I believe today what I always have: that there is nothing America can’t do – when we do it together. We just have to remember we are the United States of America.”

    Perhaps this election cycle has been too much for him this time around.

  • The average Joe

    Joe Biden has run an interesting Presidency on the back of running against Donald Trump and securing an historic victory of 81,283,501 votes.

    This time around the stakes are as high.

    At the time of writing Biden has Covid. It’s an interruption he hinted at before but it comes as no surprise in an electoral cycle that has produced a few surprises before it.

    The performance of Biden at his first election debate is divisive. It went down in the American media as a mess even by the most forgiving of standards. It isn’t clear where Biden stands now.

    In the UK 81% of adults think Biden is too old to stand according to YouGov. This is not a good figure.

    If you take into account the events of last weekend it stands to be even bleaker. Trump’s supporters get emboldened by events or acts that happen against him.

    It remains to be seen if his turnout will be high.

    This may be Biden’s biggest problem. The ‘too old’ line may coalesce with a ‘can’t-be-bothered’ attitude of those less enthused.

    It may also be the so-called “millennial” generation who will need to pull its finger out to make a significant dent in this year’s election by voting as a proportionately large group. Let’s see if any of this happens.