This week, Joe Biden made a verbal slip he’s made before when he referred to the “CEOs of countries.” He meant “companies,” of course, and soon after the gaffe he moved his hand toward his mouth, in a familiar and revealing gesture for a man who has always had a speech problem.
None of this would matter, frankly, but Biden will be 80 years old in a few weeks and he’ll turn 82 by the time of the 2024 election results are clear. So his frailties matter. Accordingly, Democrats have begun a whisper campaign about an alternative candidate. That campaign will no doubt intensify after the party loses ground in the midterm elections on November 8th, which now seems inevitable.
Meanwhile, the Republicans continue to have a giant Trump problem. The former president is popular with the base but would almost certainly lose if he ran again. In addition, he may not get the chance to run, given the multiple investigations that could well yield criminal charges against him well before 2024.
So what about the V-P candidates from 2020? Kamala Harris has had a notably undistinguished term as vice-president and is reportedly not on good terms with Biden. It’s hard to imagine her as a successful candidate for president.
Mike Pence has never broken through as a leading candidate for Republicans and it’s equally hard to imagine him as a successful candidate for president.
There is no one among the Congressional leadership who is a viable candidate in either party, IMHO. Liz Cheney is courageous, principled and independent, but she has no organization behind her.
That leaves the two strongest governors — Democrat Gavin Newsom in California and Republican Ron DeSantis of Florida — as the leading names to run and both are acting like they know that. Accordingly, they are positioning themselves as the standard-bearers for their parties.
That is the race I expect to materialize.
NEWSLINKS:
Ahead of Election Day, U.S. agencies warn of potential attacks by extremists (NPR)
Where Will This Political Violence Lead? Look to the 1850s. (Politico)
Suspect in assault at Pelosi home had posted about QAnon (AP)
Pelosi’s Husband Is Gravely Injured in Hammer Attack by an Intruder (NYT)
The attack on Paul Pelosi was not an isolated incident (CNN)
Attack on Nancy Pelosi’s husband follows years of GOP demonizing her (WP)
Pelosi attack shocks country on edge about democracy threats (AP)
From nudist activism to online hate, suspect in Paul Pelosi attack had a strange descent (SFC)
Top national security prosecutor joins Trump Mar-a-Lago investigation (WP)
With the U.S. midterm elections less than two weeks away, Twitter could become the host of a fresh wave of election misinformation just as voters are casting ballots, experts say. (Reuters)
Obama, campaigning in Georgia, warns of threats to democracy (AP)
In our latest investigation into the attack on U.S. democracy, a first-of-its-kind analysis, we looked at all 50 states and identified an alarming trend since the 2020 election: Lawmakers across the country are trying to dramatically increase law enforcement involvement in elections. The proliferation of legislation represents the most intense voter suppression threat in decades. (Reveal/CIR)
Justices to take aim at race-conscious college admissions in affirmative action cases (ABC)
Russia Moves to Pull Out of Ukraine Grain Deal After Blasts Hit Crimean Port (WSJ)
Russia suspends UN-sponsored Ukraine grain deal (Al Jazeera)
Mass shooting in Belgorod exposes Russia’s forced mobilization of migrants (WP)
Brazil election goes to the wire after ill-tempered final TV debate (Guardian)
Brazil's Presidential Election Will Determine the Planet's Future (NYT)
How a desert bloomed in the driest place on earth (Guardian)
Foreign journalists feel the pinch as Taliban tighten grip on Afghanistan (RFI)
Inflation and Wages Continue to Climb Rapidly, in Bad News for the Fed (NYT)
Racist tweets quickly surface after Musk closes Twitter deal (WP)
Why the Future of the Computer Is Everywhere, All the Time (WSJ)
My Teenage Years With the Black Panthers (NYT)
Realtor Was Not Expecting Such Hard-Hitting Questions About Water Pressure (The Onion)
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