What do you do if you’re an incumbent president who everyone thinks is too old and cognitively impaired to do the job, with the worst approval ratings in history and a terrible economy, among a slew of other things going against you?
In light of those factors, it would have been a wise decision not to seek reelection. But that’s not what Joe Biden did. Instead, armed with the belief that he’s the only Democrat who can beat Donald Trump, he decided to ask voters to give him another four years that no one thinks he’ll make it through. That he made it this far without resigning was a surprise to many — and it's likely because Kamala Harris turned out to be such an epic disaster of a vice president.
Be that as it may, Biden only has one thing going for him: the power of incumbency. According to an analysis from Goldman Sachs, since World War II, first-term incumbents have always won reelection, except with one exception: when there’s a recession. Though we’re technically not in a recession right now, historic inflation has crippled Biden’s presidency, and everything he’s done to convince the public that the economy is strong has failed miserably.
So what is he to do? He has no record to run on, and everyone thinks he’s too old and senile for the job.
I previously highlighted the three pillars of Biden’s reelection strategy: abortion, January 6, and racial division, but those pillars rest on a foundation of fear. And it's become increasingly clear in recent weeks that Biden isn't running on his record; he's running on a campaign built on fear.
After Trump's expected victory in the Iowa caucuses, Joe Biden sent out a fundraising pitch based on those results. Biden announced the results of that fundraising drive Wednesday evening.
Folks, in the 24 hours after Trump won Iowa, our team raised more than $1.6 million from grassroots donors.
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) January 17, 2024
Join us. Pitch in what you can today and help continue our progress: https://t.co/AW2V9PVKfp. pic.twitter.com/J7g0ZUJqpZ
It's a hard video to watch, and it's almost laughable to think that this was the best take they recorded. It's low-energy, painfully scripted, and desperate. "Our campaign is nurses and teachers versus the extreme MAGA Republicans, and we need you with us. It's time to get on board."
How... inspiring... I guess?
So much for pitches bragging about how great a job they've done. I guess it's harder to get people to donate when you're telling them things are awesome when their bank accounts are telling them otherwise. Fear is the driving emotion behind the campaign.
Heck, Kamala Harris admitted as much during a recent appearance on "The View."
"Now, are you scared, first of all, what could happen if Trump ever, God forbid, became president again," asked co-host Joy Behar, "and what are you going to do to stop the crazies?
"I am scared as heck, which is why I’m traveling our country. You know, there is an old saying that there are only two ways to run for office — either without an opponent or scared. So on all of those points, yes, we should all be scared."
It's fear. Fear of Trump. Fear of the "crazies" who support him. When you can't convince people you've done a good job, all you have left is selling the fear of your opponent.
