There is a world of difference between Joe Biden and Donald Trump. It is obvious. Despite everything we see and hear, the balance does not tip towards the Democratic side. So, to the great evils… the big words.
Even for Donald Trump, who wallows in exaggeration, especially when it comes to evaluating a crowd, a lot of people gathered on a beach in Wildwood, New Jersey, last Saturday. Were there 100,000 as the former president boasted, or less than 30,000 as more detached observers estimated?
Regardless, it was a lot of people who made the trip to hear Donald Trump ramble, ramble, denigrate Biden and the Democrats and, of course, fulminate against the trials against him, this famous “witch hunt”.
BIDEN DOES IN MINIMALISM
This crowd can be compared to the choices of Joe Biden’s campaign team. Last weekend, he was on the West Coast where he held a string of fundraising events: 300 people seated in the “Sanctuary Grand Ballroom” of the Lotte Hotel in Seattle; around thirty people seated and around fifty standing in the residence of a wealthy supporter in Medina, still in Washington state.
In Palo Alto, California, according to the correspondent of the Washington Post, “The president spoke in a fairly intimate room, sort of a combined living room and kitchen; “About 30 people were present for the remarks, which lasted approximately 17 minutes.” Nothing to do with the nearly two-hour speeches of his Republican rival.
OTHER DIFFERENCES, OTHER DISADVANTAGES
Donald Trump’s trial for financial fraud has been underway for more than a month now. It has been described at length in the media. Day after day, infidelities, vulgarities and shenanigans, each more embarrassing than the last, followed one another. With what impact on the Republican candidate?
Absolutely none, if we rely on the latest survey carried out by the New York Times in key states. Among registered voters, Joe Biden only holds a lead over Donald Trump in Wisconsin. Everywhere else – Michigan, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Nevada and Arizona – Trump is ahead of his Democratic opponent… with a gap even reaching twelve points in Nevada. Joe Biden, clearly, needed to give a new rhythm to this race.
DEBATE, AND ASAP
To Trump’s repeated calls for Biden to debate “anywhere, anytime,” the Democratic candidate finally responded yes, but on his conditions: no audience in the room and microphones that are immediately cut off when the candidate’s time is up and the other speaks.
The two camps also showed themselves to be complicit, by marginalizing Robert F. Kennedy Jr with heavy requirements to qualify: he will need at least 15% of voting intentions in four approved polls and be registered in enough states to be able to hope to win the majority of the electoral college votes.
KENNEDY, THE ALTERNATIVE TO BE FORGOTTEN
If anyone still doubts the distrust inspired by the candidacy of the nephew of the former president, this agreement should dispel any doubt. RFK Jr is currently unable to win the presidential election, but polls indicate he is extracting votes from Biden and Trump in roughly equal measure. Making him disappear suits both sides who otherwise have nothing but contempt for each other.
The challenge remains immense for Joe Biden. There’s no way to escape it, he looks older, speaks more slowly, moves hesitantly. In comparison, Donald Trump gives incoherent speeches and makes numerous nonsensical remarks, but he seems energetic and appears inexhaustible.
Both debates will take place earlier than originally planned, giving the candidates time to recover if they slip up. Joe Biden must silence doubts about his age and his skills to continue to govern. For him, this will look like an end-of-session exam; he will have no choice but to pass it.
A HABIT OF DEBATE
2020 presidential election
A first debate so chaotic between Trump and Biden that it was described as a “disgrace” and “the worst presidential debate ever organized”.
Archive photo, AFP
September 29, 2020
Cleveland, Ohio
73 million viewers
Winner?
(CBS News)
The second debate between Biden and Trump was praised for its less hostile and “vaguely more respectful” character.
Archive photo, AFP
October 22, 2020
Nashville, Tennessee
63 million viewers
Winner?
(CNN)
