As it stands, Joe Biden is heading straight for a loss in the 2024 election. Republicans shouldn’t rest on their laurels, though; they need to keep their ground game strong and messaging sharp, especially with the Democrats’ knack for pulling electoral tricks out of their hats. But for now, Biden is staring down the barrel of an Electoral College blowout. Hill Democrats, especially those who turned on Biden after his disastrous June 27 debate performance, are bracing for a total meltdown if the Delaware liberal stubbornly clings to a job he’s arguably never been fit for.
Despite national polls showing Biden within a few points of Trump, he needs a much wider margin to have any real shot at hitting 270 electoral votes. It’s a tough climb. Biden’s team has given up hope on keeping their 2020 gains in the Sun Belt and is now pinning their hopes on Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania—all states where Trump currently leads. Pennsylvania seems particularly ready to flip, and if it does, it’s game over. Even Nancy Pelosi has reportedly expressed, albeit in private, her wish for Biden to step aside.
The disarray among Democrats, just 16 weeks from Election Day, was unimaginable before Biden’s debate flop. Instead of bringing in critical voices, Biden has cocooned himself with family members and yes-men, shielding himself from reality. A Politico piece captured the mood perfectly with one aide summing up the party’s 2024 chances in just two words: “It’s over.” But Biden isn’t budging, leaving many Democrats resigned to the likelihood of a second Trump term. They’re now scrambling to figure out how to at least ensure a congressional check on Trump.
The dysfunction and infighting within the Democratic Party are on full display. Biden’s insistence on staying in the race, despite the clear signs that his candidacy is in trouble, has created a whirlwind of chaos. The party’s inability to unify behind a strong alternative candidate or even to admit the dire straits they’re in, is leading to a perfect storm of electoral disaster. And let’s not forget the irony of a party that once touted unity now falling apart at the seams.
As Election Day inches closer, it’s becoming increasingly clear that Biden’s chances are slipping away. The Republicans, for their part, just need to keep doing what they’re doing and avoid any major missteps. Meanwhile, Democrats are left to ponder what might have been and brace for a potential Trump 2.0 era. The political landscape is nothing if not unpredictable, but one thing is certain: the road to November is going to be one wild ride.
