THE KEY TO SUCCESS sometimes is simply exceeding low expectations. That certainly was the case for Joe Biden this week, after he out-foxed Republicans on Social Security, showed good energy, and seemed eager to play the adult in the room as the 2024 presidential campaign begins.
REPUBLICANS IN THIS TOWN were glum yesterday; they conceded that Biden won the spin battle after the State of the Union address.
EVEN DONALD TRUMP, who usually is scathing toward Biden, had this comment: “I disagree with Biden on most of his policies, but he put into words what he felt, and he ended up the evening far stronger than he began. Give him credit for that,” Trump said on his Truth Social web site.
THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE IN THE UPCOMING CAMPAIGN: It’s not Social Security or Medicare; they’re now off limits for the foreseeable future. The issue to watch is Biden’s energy level.
THE REPUBLICANS’ NARRATIVE, pushed by Sara Huckabee Sanders, is that Biden, 80, is too old for the job, but that argument collided with his feisty performance on Tuesday night. Biden has stuttered for decades, which is not disqualifying for the presidency, and his gait is noticeably slower.
BUT BIDEN SENT A STONG MESSAGE to his detractors — he has enough energy to run for another term; the announcement will come this spring. Even if the public thinks he’s too fragile for the job, Biden is about to clear the field for the nomination — he may run with no significant opposition from any Democrats.
REPUBLICANS, ON THE OTHER HAND, ARE IN DISARRAY: Party leaders can’t agree on prescriptions for the economy, they don’t have a clear deficit reduction plan, and several House members — George Santos and Marjorie Taylor Greene come to mind — are embarrassments.
COMPLICATING THIS FASCINATING POLITICAL NARRATIVE is the likelihood that there will be at least six or seven serious Republican candidates for the presidential nomination, with Trump blasting away at most of them. Trump will mock Ron DeSantis and the rest, which will simply soften up the eventual nominee in the general election.
THE DEMOCRATS WILL BE MORE UNIFIED: They’re not wildly enthusiastic about Biden, but he obviously will have the nomination if he wants it. The possibility of a second Biden term will, of course, increase the focus on Kamala Harris. Is she ready for a potential presidency? The jury is out — but it appears that she also has a low bar to clear.
Related: Some Clues for the Rest of the Year: Biden Goes Populist, GOP is Still Divided
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