Joe Biden, who currently occupies the White House, found himself in yet another futile attempt at rallying his dwindling support base. Addressing an assembly in a gymnasium in Prince George’s County, Maryland, Biden waged a verbal attack against the formidable figure of Donald Trump – a man no longer his electoral rival. Known for his penchant for supporting his party’s political narratives, Biden unleashed a torrent of self-praise about his policy ‘achievements’ and dismissed concerns over his advancing age with misplaced humor. He also appears to continue his struggle to gain traction, even in a Democratic stronghold.
To add a touch of modern glamour to his political theater, Biden decided to bring Kamala Harris along. The duo, however, resembled a washed-up band hoping for one last glory. The crowd’s enthusiasm seemed largely directed towards Harris, favoring her with louder cheers, as displayed by the sea of pink and green, the colors of her sorority. Notably, some attendees wore ‘Kamala Harris 2024’ and ‘Karma is Kamala’ T-shirts, a seeming nod to Biden’s short expiration date.
The Vice President, for her part, dedicated her speech to propping up Biden. However, her effusive praise raised questions about her own political ambitions. Contrary to her usual practice of standing over Biden’s shoulder, as she did when introducing running mate Tim Walz in Philadelphia last week, Harris absconded from the stage after her introduction, a move interpreted by some as a power strategy.
Biden’s performance took off on a lackluster note with his mumbling about prescription drug prices and stumbling over his own words. His surprising attempt to rally the crowd hinged on his strange endorsement of Harris with the assertion, ‘She’ll make one hell of a president!’. It seems Biden finally found his comedic timing, even if it’s at the expense of his credibility.
During the event, he tried to laugh off his old age and persistent health concerns. ‘I served in the Senate for 270 years,’ he quipped to a chuckling audience. ‘I know I only look 40, but I’m a little bit older. I was termed too young when I was elected at 29, now deemed too old’, Biden said, attempting to reframe his age as experience and resilience.
Making a rare reference to a personal health incident that nearly cost him his life in the late 80s, Biden said, ‘I had two craniotomies because of an aneurysm. If I hadn’t had insurance, my bill would have been in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.’ However, it’s unclear whether this emotional plea was meant to evoke sympathy or was just another political maneuver to push his health care agenda.
The president seems to be attempting to connect with his seniors, his primary demographic, using the topic of lowering healthcare costs. However, the effectiveness of this pandering has yet to be seen. As the event came to a close, it appeared Biden was merely clinging to an illusion that he was still relevant in a political landscape that seems to have shifted.
Joe Biden’s Feeble Attempts at Rallying Support Fall Flat appeared first on Real News Now.
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