Biden Needs – Trump Happy – Politics –

On Sunday, another influential politician, U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, joined calls for Biden to withdraw from the presidential campaign. “I made this decision with a heavy heart, but I believe it is time to pass the baton to a new generation,” the independent senator from West Virginia told CNN.

Manchin also called for an “open process,” noting the wealth of talent in the Democratic ranks, and stressed that by resigning, Biden could use his remaining months in office to “unite our country” and “bring the world together.”

The backdrop to the revolt is doubts about the president’s mental fitness and his ability to defeat Trump in the November election and serve another four years in office. About three dozen of his party colleagues from both chambers have publicly called on Biden to drop out of the race for a second term.

According to media reports, the party’s front line is also trying, behind the scenes, to persuade Biden to withdraw, including two of the top Democrats in Congress, Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries, as well as the former Speaker of the House and Secretary of State. The influential Democrat remains, Nancy Pelosi. Biden’s former boss, former President Barack Obama, is also said to have expressed concerns.

The concerted action from within his own party is remarkable. The fact that off-the-record statements from the country’s most influential Democrats have been made public in the past few days is also unlikely to be a coincidence.

The unpleasant details gradually became public. In calling for his withdrawal, Democratic Rep. Seth Moulton described a meeting with Biden on the sidelines of the 80th anniversary of D-Day in Normandy: “For the first time, he didn’t seem to recognize me.”

House Republican Leader Mike Johnson accused Democrats of trying to cover up the real situation with Biden for too long. Johnson told CNN that they had repeatedly told voters how fit and flexible the president was. “They all knew that wasn’t true,” he lamented. “Everyone who dealt with him over the last few years knew that wasn’t true.”

After testing positive for the coronavirus, Biden retired to his private home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, a few days ago and has not attended any appointments since. In public, he has strongly rejected all calls to withdraw, instead announcing that he will return to the campaign trail next week. His campaign team also insists that he has no plans to give up. According to US media, the 81-year-old president has no longer ruled out definitively dropping out of the presidential race, given the massive resistance within his ranks.

For Trump, the crisis of his rival and the Democratic Party was a target. “You have some problems,” the Republican scoffed during a campaign appearance in Grand Rapids, Michigan. “First of all, you have no idea who your nominee is.” A few days earlier, the 78-year-old had been chosen as his party’s presidential candidate with great pomp and a show of unity.

Trump mocked the Democratic incumbent several times during his appearance. Biden can’t find his way off the stage on his own. “He has no idea what he’s doing.” The Republican denounced his rival as a “weak old man” and a “stupid person” who has surrounded himself with communists and evil people.

Trump also took a belligerent approach to Vice President Kamala Harris, who is considered the most likely replacement candidate if Biden drops out of the campaign. “She’s crazy,” Trump said angrily. He could tell by her laughter. “She’s crazy.”

It was Trump’s first classic rally since the assassination attempt. A gunman opened fire on Trump at a similar campaign event in Butler, Pennsylvania, a week earlier. The shooter, who fired from a flat roof outside the venue, was killed by security forces. One rallygoer was killed and two others were wounded. Trump was shot in the right ear. The incident marked an escalation in an already heated US election campaign and raised serious questions about whether Trump was adequately protected.

Trump’s Grand Rapids event was held in the arena instead of outside. The Secret Service, which is responsible for protecting top U.S. politicians, has now admitted that it has turned down multiple requests for additional resources to protect Trump in recent years, according to a report in The New York Times. A spokesperson for the agency initially denied such claims immediately after the attack. When asked about the matter, the Secret Service initially did not comment on the report. The agency’s chief is scheduled to answer questions about the attempted assassination of Trump on Capitol Hill on Monday and Tuesday.

In Grand Rapids, the Republican also made his first appearance at a campaign rally with his new vice presidential running mate, J.D. Vance. “She made the right decision,” Trump said of his new partner. “He’s very good.”

His campaign team also released details about Trump’s gunshot wound. Trump’s physician, Ronny Jackson, said that during the assassination attempt, the bullet missed the former president’s head by less than an inch. The bullet struck the top of Trump’s right ear, leaving a wound about two inches wide. He is healing well. “It’s an absolute miracle he wasn’t killed,” Jackson said.