Donald Trump had a bad day last Sunday. When Joe Biden announced he was dropping out of the election, Trump’s campaign strategy went out the window. Trump finally taught us something. Unfortunately, it was the wisdom of “Be careful what you wish for.”
Trump’s campaign for more than a year has been based on Biden’s age and “cognitive decline.” Those attacks coming from a candidate who has accused President Biden of risking the start of World War II and who has alerted us to the dangers of both sharks and electric boats will not be effective against 59-year-old Kamala Harris.
Trump’s initial reaction to Biden’s announcement, expressed through postings on his social media site, was anger. Trump was angry at Biden for denying him what he thought would be an easy win in November, so he continued to thrash out at Biden, reminding us that Biden is old and accusing him of being the worst president in history. A saner response, if Trump were honest in his attacks, would be thanking Biden for quitting the race.
Trump welcomed a Democratic party that he believed was saddled with a losing candidate. He saw a win-win. If Biden insisted on remaining in the race, Trump would win on age and sympathy over the failed assassination attempt. If Biden quit, Trump hoped the party would descend into open warfare and a lengthy “mini-convention” process that would end with a split party.
Kamala Harris’ candidacy, unfortunately for Trump, has been well-received by the Democratic party. In less than a week, the vice president has locked up the nomination. The focus of discussions within the party has turned to the selection of a vice president. Should Harris select North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, or somebody else?
My recommendation is that Harris select Jack Smith, the special counsel prosecuting Trump for a basketful of crimes ranging from stealing secret federal documents, obstructing justice, and, of course, interfering with the 2020 presidential election. Thanks to Trump-appointed judges, Smith’s two cases are unlikely to reach trial before election day. So why not put a second experienced prosecutor on the ticket?
A slogan for Harris’s campaign is already emerging—The Prosecutor vs. the Felon. Given the scope of the Trump crime wave, a second prosecutor on the ticket would “make things interesting.” More importantly, Trump’s anger might get the better of him.
I am joking, of course, but I look forward to Trump debating Harris in September, assuming, of course, that Trump does not concoct an excuse to cancel the debate. Harris will make mincemeat of Trump. The unhinged ex-president is also likely to attack Harris on the basis of gender and race. And how do you think the debate on abortion will go?
Harris is already supercharging fired-up women voters. The more Trump attacks her, the more likely women are to vote for Harris. Voters of color also will not take kindly if Trump suggests it is too early for another Black president.
The Trump campaign, apart from tweets coming from the 78-year-old, overweight leader of the Republican party, has not had much to say about Harris. That will change, but Trump will have his hands full, especially if he chooses to defend some of the ridiculous, destructive ideas included in his playbook—Project 2025. (Do not believe Trump when he says he knows nothing about it—Trump is lying.)
The cards in the 2024 election have been reshuffled. There will be surprises ahead, including the selection of a vice-presidential nominee to run with Harris. It is also too soon to assume there will not be more “bombshells.” What could those be? Trump may have his own age-related issues as the stress of the campaign, recovery from the psychological shock of getting shot by a registered Republican, and more legal problems continue.
Trump cannot beat a unified, fired-up Democratic party, especially when much of the Republican party has reservations about Trump’s character, cognitive decline, work ethic, criminal record, and predilection for nepotism.
Stay tuned.
J.E. Dean is a retired attorney and public affairs consultant. He writes on politics, government, and, too infrequently, other subjects.
Chris Gordon says
Maryland will go blue so the vote that I will cast won’t change anything. The one thing I can contribute is money. The Harris campaign will get as much of my Social Security check as I can afford. I hope others will do the same.
John Dean says
Thank you for the comment. You are, of course, right about votes for Harris not changing anything, but it will be important for Harris to get as many popular votes as possible to discourage Trump from challenging the election result.
Gren Whitman says
Suddenly challenged by a Black woman, it didn’t take long for Donald Trump — convicted felon, liar, racist, misogynist, bully — to revert to his factory settings.
John Dean says
Thanks for reading the piece and for your comment. My only comment–no surprise. Anyone who thought Trump was serious about “unity” did not know the ex-president.
Marjorie Lee Fick says
Correction: Kamala Harris is NOT black. She may be a woman of color, but definitely not black.
Deirdre LaMotte says
Her father was Jamaican, she identifies as Black, as a graduate Howard University.
What is your point?
James Nick says
Re: “… much of the Republican party has reservations about Trump’s character, cognitive decline, work ethic, criminal record, and predilection for nepotism.”
This statement isn’t even close to being accurate. From the most recent Quinnipiac Poll released on July 22nd (https://poll.qu.edu/poll-release?releaseid=3901), 93% of Republicans support trump. As repeatedly shown on this forum as well as others, trump’s base does not care about his character, his work ethic, his criminal record, or his nepotism. They do not care about his racism, misogyny, crudeness, ethics, incessant lying, malignant narcissism, ignorance, incompetence, or his age. In fact, they embrace and celebrate these very qualities. Similarly, they do not see any evidence of obvious cognitive decline.
Nor do they care about his policies. They do not question his sudden 180 deg flip-flops on, or distancing himself from, such things as national abortion ban, Tik-Tok ban, “woke” EVs, cryptocurrency, foreign nationals getting green cards, and Project 2025.
No matter what he says or does, his favorability remains rock-steady at 46% +/- margin of error. It hardly changes no matter what happens whether it is an impeachment, a criminal conviction, found liable for sexual abuse, an $83 million judgment against him, policy flip-flops, or even an assassination attempt.
His rock-steady favorability rating is an indication of the size of his unquestioning, devoted cult. It suggests his cult never grows – it is maxed out. In 2020, it wasn’t so much that Biden beat trump as imbecilic, noxious trump beat trump. With Biden out and Harris in along trump amping up his truly repulsive rhetoric, there’s now no reason to expect the same dynamic won’t hold in 2024.
John Dean says
Thanks for your comment. I get your points. My statement was based on conversations with several acquaintances and friends who I know have voted for Trump in the past. A number of them have said they might not vote for Trump due to the issues I raised.
I did not conduct a poll or consult various polls. I personally don’t trust polls, especially more than 3 months before an election.
That being said, you make good points, and I appreciate you raising them.
Gren Whitman says
Jim Nicks often brings out the “Oh-how-I-wish-I’d-said-that” in me.
Indeed, Trump’s Deplorables don’t care what he says, what he doesn’t say, what he does, what he doesn’t, where he goes, where he stays, who he sees, who he overlooks, what he means, what he doesn’t mean… Heck, it’s all the same to them, fodder for their fears, and screw the libs!
Don I. says
Trump’s supporters only care about one thing; the future of this Republic and the continued damage done to her should the leftists be reinstalled into power.
Gren Whitman says
Trump supporters may “only care” about “the future of this Republic” (as you say), but Trump only cares about himself. Leftists are not enemies of the Republic any more or less than conservatives, but Trump — by his own words and actions — surely is.
Sally Pina says
Yup, if Orange God does, in fact, debate Kamala Harris, she will chew him up and spit him out. In my capacity with the SF Courts before I retired, I saw her in action, both as a Deputy DA and then the SF Da. She is formidable, smart, always prepared and quick on her feet. Orange God would wither in a debate with her. So my wish is that Orange God does debate her because that would be a thing of beauty – seeing Orange God reduced to the ignorant, racist, bigoted, egotistical man he really is.