Staff Reports
President Joe Biden’s sporadic appearances on the campaign trail have turned into a veritable circus act, leaving many Democrats scratching their heads about what on earth their party was thinking when they picked him to lead the charge. Polls suggest that the race is tighter than ever, with Vice President Kamala Harris battling it out against former President Donald Trump in several key battleground states. Surprisingly, it appears that every time Biden opens his mouth, he risks turning undecided voters back to the Republican camp—or worse, convincing them to sit on their hands and not vote at all.
One of Biden’s recent faux pas included his overzealous response to comedian Tony Hinchcliffe’s jab about Puerto Rico being a “floating island of garbage” at a Trump rally. Instead of letting it slide or even turning the other cheek, Biden half-heartedly attempted damage control by declaring it was Hinchcliffe who was “garbage.” Naturally, this little outburst chose the perfect moment to steal the spotlight from Harris while she was delivering her closing arguments just a stone’s throw away. Talk about teamwork—when trying to rally support for a campaign, overshadowing your own vice president is surely not a recommended strategy.
Biden can try and walk it back but no one is buying his BS.
Anxious Democrats groan at Biden's "garbage" comment https://t.co/wpWIfQMuh8
— R T (@RDog861) October 30, 2024
Biden’s blunders seem to be following a troubling pattern. A week prior, he decided to stir the pot in New Hampshire by calling for Trump to be “locked up,” only to shift back into quiet mode while Harris faced criticism over another topic. This consistent interference has raised eyebrows, as it is hard to picture a campaign where the sitting president continuously outshines the one hoping to take his place. And Biden’s popularity, or, more accurately, the lack thereof—with an approval rating plummeting over fifteen percentage points—definitely doesn’t help Harris’s case as she tries to tease apart her identity from his.
Some political strategists are having a tough time defending Biden, pointing out that while he may be “trying” to lend a hand to Harris, his efforts are more of a burden than a blessing. Biden’s historical legacy hangs over Harris’s campaign, as she must balance voicing her own ideas while still acknowledging the man who propelled her nomination in the first place. A true juggling act, and certainly one most would applaud while simultaneously covering their eyes in horror at the throws and catches.
Meanwhile, the party continues to insist that Biden’s presence is a boon for Harris, even as his gaffes multiply. Democrats cling desperately to the hope that he’ll magically become an asset to her campaign while attempting to navigate the tricky situation of being a vice president under a president whose name is now synonymous with verbal mishaps. If Harris emerged victorious, she’d owe it to Biden’s hurried endorsement, or perhaps even to his ability to gleefully veer off message at the worst possible moments.
In the final stretch leading up to the elections, Biden’s PR team might want to consider keeping him in “the basement” to avoid more headline-grabbing misstatements. Political experts seem to agree; the wisdom of the day is to let Harris take the helm. After all, there are only so many times one can watch a political train wreck before it gets old. Let’s hope for the sake of the Democrats that there aren’t too many more “garbage” moments in Biden’s campaign playbook.
