It’s a completely different race for Donald Trump now that Joe Biden has dropped out and laid the groundwork for Kamala Harris to be the party’s nominee.
The Atlantic’s Tim Alberta reported earlier this month that Trump’s top advisers feared the candidate would have to face someone other than Biden. That time has come, and Alberta now reports that some may be questioning the decision to choose J.D. Vance as Trump’s running mate.
“The most surprising thing I heard yesterday from Trump allies was the doubt about JD Vance, a pick they acknowledged was a product of hubris, aimed at increasing margins with the base in a landslide victory rather than persuading undecided voters in a close election,” Alberta posted on X with a link to its latest report.
From his report:
“Republicans I spoke to today, some of them still hungover from what seemed to many like a victory-night celebration in Milwaukee, expressed shock at the news of Biden’s departure. Party officials had left town believing the race was all but decided. Now they were faced with the reality of reimagining a campaign — one that had been optimized, in every way, to defeat Biden — against a new and unknown opponent. …
“For months, speaking with (Trump senior advisers Susie) Wiles and (Chris) LaCivita, I was struck by their concern about the possibility of a dramatic shift — that Democratic leaders would unseat Biden in favor of a younger candidate. They told me the Trump campaign was preparing contingency plans and studying the weaknesses of potential alternatives, starting with Vice President Kamala Harris. By the time of the debate, however, they believed the Democrats’ window had all but closed. Even in the immediate aftermath, when Democratic officials openly called for Biden to step down, Wiles and LaCivita were banking on the status quo. More than anything, Trump allies believed the president’s stubborn Irish ego wouldn’t let him back down from a fight with a man he despised.”
Biden on Sunday dropped out of the 2024 White House race, ending his re-election bid after a disastrous debate with Trump that raised questions about his suitability for the job just four months before the election.
The decision comes after mounting pressure from Biden’s Democratic allies to step aside following the June 27 debate, in which the 81-year-old president trailed off, often gave nonsensical answers and failed to mention the former president’s many falsehoods.
Biden endorsed Harris to be the party’s nominee.
“Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be our party’s nominee this year. Democrats, it’s time to come together and beat Trump. Let’s do it,” Biden posted on X, formerly Twitter.
The Democratic National Convention will be held from August 19 to 22 in Chicago.
Biden plans to serve out the remainder of his term in office, which ends at noon on January 20, 2025.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Matte bow You can contact him at [email protected]Follow him on Twitter at @MatthewArco.
