How Biden and His Inner Circle Screwed It Up

By Trevor Hunnicutt

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Joe Biden’s decision to end his re-election campaign on Sunday followed a series of strategic missteps by his campaign team and White House aides that amplified concerns that the 81-year-old president would not be able to win. November elections, or govern the country for another four years.

Biden’s halting performance in the June 27 presidential debate against Republican nominee Donald Trump led even some of his closest allies to question whether he could withstand a full campaign and added fuel to a simmering movement within the Democratic Party that questioned the wisdom of the his second term.

In just a few days, Biden went from party figurehead to liability. He became the first sitting president to resign over possible re-election since Lyndon B. Johnson in 1968.

These were some of the key moments that led to Biden’s downfall.

THE DEBATE COUP: April to June

Biden himself kicked off the debate, after telling radio host Howard Stern in April that he would debate Trump, despite concerns from some of his Democratic allies that a debate could do little to improve his chances or even shed an unflattering light on the matter. he.

Some Biden aides thought they had pulled off a coup by agreeing to a debate in June. They worked with broadcaster CNN to shape the rules in what they considered to be in their favor and agreed on May 15 to two debates, including the first on June 27.

An earlier debate would serve Biden well, some aides thought, convincing voters there was no other anti-Trump option in the race but also cushioning the blow of any lackluster performance from the president.

The format — no audience to deliver Trump’s jokes, no third-party candidates, moderators they could trust and a mute button on the microphones — would, they thought, favor Biden’s style.

JET LAG – JUNE 4 TO 27

Biden flew twice to Europe and the West Coast over a 14-day period, before taking just a few days to rest at his vacation home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.

Biden was tired and dragged at the end of the trip, according to several people who observed him during that period.

He and his aides went to Camp David for focused preparatory sessions on June 21, where they peppered Biden with details and then continued with mock debates over nearly seven days.

A BAD NIGHT – JUNE 27

At the CNN studios in Atlanta, Biden stumbled over his words and lost his train of thought. His delivery, appearance and voice immediately caught the attention of reporters, who asked his advisors for explanations.

Officials told reporters during the debate some new information: Biden had a cold, they said.

Biden’s hoarseness would improve as the debate progressed, but his disjointed responses caught voters, donors and Democratic officials by surprise. One Democratic strategist called it “a disaster.”

Trump, 78, repeated a series of blatant and well-worn falsehoods during the 90-minute debate, including claims that he had actually won the 2020 election. Biden was unable to refute them, leaving sentences and thoughts unfinished.

Trump criticized Biden for being incoherent: “I really don’t know what he said at the end of the sentence. I don’t think he knows what he said.”

FALLOUT – JUNE 27 TO JULY 2

“I know I’m not young, to state the obvious,” Biden said the day after the debate, admitting a poor performance. “I almost fell asleep on stage,” he said on July 2.

Calls for Biden to resign would begin hours after the debate. Calls from Biden aides to concerned Democrats facing re-election campaigns and who saw their political futures flashing before their eyes would only begin days later.

Some lawmakers began breaking ranks, starting with U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett on July 2, and then gaining momentum.

Angry donors told Biden aides they would need a turnaround in the candidate’s performance. Senior Democrats and Biden allies have also begun suggesting changes to the ticket.

House of Representatives Democrat Jim Clyburn — something of a kingmaker within the Democratic Party who was instrumental in Biden’s 2020 victory — said on July 2 that he would support Vice President Kamala Harris if Biden were to leave and floated the idea of a “mini-primary” if Biden walked away.

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a longtime Biden ally, said it was legitimate to ask whether Biden’s performance in Atlanta was an “episode” or a condition. She also hinted that Biden would need to examine his choice to participate in the dispute.

THE DAM BREAKS – JULY 5TH TO 8TH

Biden would not be able to calm the chorus of dissent.

In his first major post-debate interview on July 5, Biden told ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos that only the “Lord Almighty” could kick him out of the race.

More worryingly for some Democrats, Biden said he could accept staying in the race and losing to Trump “as long as I give it my all and do as good a job as I know I can do.”

Thirty-six US Democratic lawmakers and one independent who caucus with Democrats would eventually call on Biden to abandon the ticket during the 24 days following the debate.

NATO, POLLS – JULY 9-12 Biden tried to move on. He gave interviews, held a press conference and gave scathing speeches during the campaign, as well as at the NATO summit of US allies.

But events sometimes raised more concerns than they calmed.

At the NATO summit, during the second week of July, Biden confused the names of his vice president Harris and his Republican rival Trump, and those of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Russian president Vladimir Putin, whose countries are at war with each other .

Polls have shown Biden trailing other Democrats in many of the key states and districts Democrats need to win in November, although polls across the country continue to point to a tight race.

Biden remained impassive, still believing he was the best candidate to face Trump, who could recover from this setback like so many times before, a view reinforced by a close circle of advisors.

TRUMP RALLY SHOOTING – JULY 13

Trump was shot while giving a speech in Pennsylvania. The bullet hit his ear, bleeding his face, and photos of the former president raising his fist in defiance were widely circulated.

Republicans spoke of divine providence, unifying around their candidate. Democrats feared their own chances were doomed, seeing only a narrower path to any victory in November.

Days later, Biden caught COVID while campaigning in Nevada. Recovering at his home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, he would have time, alone and isolated, to decide whether and how to end his campaign.

(Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt; Editing by Heather Timmons, Alistair Bell and Leslie Adler)