The word “denial” is not a river in Egypt, but it is a handydandy human coping skill to avoid unpleasant events in our collective lives. Unfortunately avoiding a harsh reality can make matters worse the longer you wait to confront it.
Exhibit A: President Joe Biden.
More than a year before his decision to step down from the Democratic ticket, there was plenty of off the radar chatter in Democratic circles that the prez was not up to the task but nobody acted on it. How do you gracefully tell a sitting president to take a hike?
If the chatter reached the Oval office it was quickly and decisively batted away.
“I’m the best candidate to beat Donald Trump,” was the front office explanation for why the incumbent was running again. And as the drum beat to force him to recant reached a crescendo, the Biden team gave no ground.
Hindsight being what it is, suffice it to say the denial made it tougher to address the reality which had its roots in that “bad night” debate with Donald Trump when a sitting president showed his age for the whole world to see.
One of the president’s longtime and close advisors to the president was in town the other day and this question came up.
At anytime, prior to his decision, did you privately conclude that his presidency would have to end?
Tom Perez, the former chair of the Democratic National Committee, did not bat an eyelash with a quick response, “No. Because I’ve worked and I see him up close and personal,” as he defended his answer even though legions of his amigos in Washington were singing a different tone for weeks.
Former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm and current Gov. Gretchen Whitmer offered the same explanation having seen the president “up close and personal,” too. In the case of the current governor, her observations were long before this story reached critical mass, but the comments from the former governor came after the weak debate showing.
Through this ordeal there were tell tale signs the ship was sinking.
Young voters who help propel Mr. Biden into the job, were MIA.
To be sure, his support in the loyal African-American community was there but not at the level it needed to be for him to win again.
And even portions of the loyal Democratic Party base looked like a land slide.
While at the same time some of the president’s true-believers were saying those voters would come home once they figured out that Donald Trump would win if they didn’t.
Veteran Michigan Pollster Richard Czuba uncovered this startling evidence that the defections were real.
That’s because after Mr. Biden left the race, 26% of the voters said they were now more motivated to vote with him out.
And 48% of those were the 18-29 year olds. Another 38% were African-Americans and another chunk, 37% were the base/hard core D’s.
And with that and with a new fresh face on the ticket, something else returned … enthusiasm and hope which also had been MIA for months...much to the chagrin of Team Trump which up until then was coasting to an easy win.
