Joe Biden's only goal heading into Thursday's debate was to fix the problem. But he made the problem much worse and created a whole new problem.
Biden, who is lagging in many opinion polls, has a mission to reach out to Americans who say they do not currently support him but who might do so: undecided voters, independent voters, etc.double haterOr people who voted for him four years ago but are now hesitant.
Biden's disappointing performance did not bring those voters closer, but rather pushed them further away. And that wasn't all. Biden has also shaken the faith of some of his most devoted loyalists, people who form his vanguard and are critical to Democrats' hopes of retaining the White House.
It's not enough for Democrats to say they will still vote for Biden. That alone cannot win the general election. Every winning presidential candidate must have passionate supporters who donate to him, volunteer for him, convince their friends to vote for him, and patiently explain to their families why the latest Facebook meme actually makes no sense.
Simply put, we need the military. And right now, Biden's military is dispirited. Some are ready to leave camp, or at least thinking about it. The rest are helpless, and many are filled with fear.
In moments like these, a leader must step up, take responsibility, and find a way to rally the troops. And it is not the rank-and-file who will explain to Biden and his aides how to resolve this terrible mess. That is Biden’s job.
But we can tell you what Biden absolutely must not do. He cannot ignore this problem. He cannot pretend that this problem does not exist. He cannot wish to make this problem disappear or hope that this problem will solve itself. It will not be solved.
It may require bold action that Biden is unwilling to consider. But a true leader doesn’t shy away from the hardest things.
Reactivating a battalion is not enough. Even if he can somehow, Biden will have to persuade reluctant voters to vote for him. But he can't succeed if he doesn't first win back the hearts of his troops.
In many ways, Joe Biden has been a great president. But time is running out. Biden has been tested politically throughout his life. This may be his greatest test. He now has to rise to the occasion. His army awaits.
campaign activities