Staff Reports
The Democrats thought they could simply swap out Joe Biden for a fresher face and have a fighting chance in the 2024 election, but it seems they may have underestimated the old man after all. With Kamala Harris at the helm, hoping to ride the wave of youthful exuberance to victory, October has proven to be anything but a carnival ride. Instead, it feels more like a trip through the haunted house at the county fair—lots of screams and nowhere to run.
Recent commentary suggests that some Democrats are feeling nostalgic for their Joe Biden 2020 model. There’s buzz about whether Biden, despite his age and questionable mental acuity, might have been a more formidable candidate against Donald Trump than Kamala Harris has turned out to be. The underlying question echoes increasingly: Would an elderly Biden really be that much worse than a lackluster Harris who seemed to be fighting an uphill battle before the first debate was even over?
Is the Left Realizing That It Was Better Off With Joe Biden as Its Candidate? https://t.co/AxoWFl5YwZ
— Donna Traficante (@DonnaTrafi55349) October 22, 2024
For context, Biden’s charm isn’t exactly on par with a late-night comedy host, but Trump has the charisma of a reality television superstar, and that’s not something to overlook. His audacious aura draws in crowds the way a shiny object attracts a crow. While Trump may not have the physique of a Greek god (who does, really?), he has a peculiar stamina that sends shockwaves through his audiences long after they leave the rally. Meanwhile, Harris, despite her cheery disposition and infectious laughter, often looks like she’d rather be anywhere else than standing next to Trump in front of a microphone.
Kamala’s campaign strategy so far appears to skirt the contentious issues surrounding Trump’s legal challenges, opting instead to rely on charm bracelets and optimism like they’re a magic wand. However, in the grand theater of politics, the magic seems a bit dusty. Biden would have had to play a much more robust game to overcome the physical and energetic deficits against Trump. If his team had set the stage right, who knows? They might have made the Trump conviction issues appear like the acrobatics of a circus clown instead of the daunting circus that they are.
Deep down, many in the Democratic party may be haunted by a nagging realization that Biden, once viewed as a walking disaster, could have actually stirred the pot of competition more effectively than Harris. As the polling numbers tumble, whispers of buyer’s remorse echo louder than a sad country song playing in the background. It seems Deja Vu is rippling through their ranks, with many pondering whether a second Trump term might not be the disaster they once feared. After all, if Harris were catching fire in the polls, there’s no way they would be looking back at Biden with wistful eyes.
The political landscape is anything but straightforward, and as the Democrats fumble their way through the final stretch, many are left wondering if the wisdom of keeping the old guard—ready or not—might just be the ticket in what has already become a wild ride. As the clock ticks down to election day, the lesson learned could be that sometimes, sticking with what you know—even if it’s a bit aged—might be better than rolling the dice on the new and shiny, especially in the circus called modern politics.
