mtutiger

I hadn't considered this possibility as to why he's not out as much, although his schedule has been a lot lighter throughout this campaign regardless.

It's not even that he didn't try, although that's a valid point, it's the fact that he doesn't have any sort of message discipline. The campaign of course is producing ads, and they have generally been hitting Kamala on the areas that you would expect them to (ie. immigration, economy, etc). But when he has had public appearances, such as the Atlanta rally over the weekend, he not only didn't focus on or reinforce any of those issues but actively made life harder by, for instance, going after the wife of Governor Brian Kemp. To be clear, he wasn't clear and concise and rambled a lot in 2016 as well, but the degree to which he is consumed by grievance and articulate any sort of substantive message is markedly different when you compare to videos of him from that campaign.

This is true, and thinking about it more, it's really strange that they aren't counter programming better. The other part is that, we are less than two weeks from the DNC... the most common refrain after Biden dropped out and endorsed Harris was that the time between that point and Chicago was a race to define Kamala Harris. We are halfway between that point and he beginning of the convention, and unequivocally, Trump's campaign is losing that race. And with his schedule this week, is actively wasting time that could be used in that effort. It raises a ton of questions... I don't think it's purely campaign strategy, I'm sure Susie Wiles and Chris LaCivita know what to do. But there's only so much you can do with a bad candidate.

What we've seen so far has been base consolidation, which seems like it could be lasting. The next test is gonna be with independent and swing voters. Reasons for optimism there, especially with the convention coming up. But the fall will be important too

I honestly don't know, but I think Biden's issues with aging have overshadowed... this. This isn't new. His schedule has been light this entire time, his rallies have been even more insane and incoherent, he flubs more than he used to, etc. And for as much as him and "Substitute Pence" talk about Kamala not having a press conference, outside of that disaster-class NABJ debacle, he hasn't had one of those in months either. He spends all his time in safe spaces (like Fox and with other right wing media outlets/figures) It just didn't get noticed until now more broadly when people are sizing him up against a more youthful candidate. That's what we are seeing here IMO

He did get that weird-ass cyber truck from the Adin Ross guy Just not serious

He's 78 years old and in poor health. And has poor judgment. It's been the same thing the entire damn campaign... But the conditions have changed such that it is much more stark and much more noticeable

Incredible

Maybe he needs to call Dr. Ronny Johnson and get one of those cognitive screenings? He seems confused

Another swing and a miss at a high 80s heater...

Ironic given that Glenn Close was in his biopic... but getting real "Fatal Attraction" vibes here...

Does this make JD the Spencer Torkelson of VP candidates?

Texas' movement has tended to be somewhat untethered by national margins (similar to Georgia), so it wouldnt surprise me if landed closer than 2020. Though I agree she won't win it Ethan's point does matter though if you believe there will be a gap between Trump and Cruz tho... A close Trump win could end up being a close Cruz loss if there is a gap.

This clip really sums him up well

I don't think it gets discussed enough, but in all likelihood, this is going to be the first campaign out of his three where he will clearly be outworked by his opposition. And that will likely matter one way or another. Sending JD to cover (as he's doing this week) isn't going to be adequate.

The couch line is getting a lot of attention, but Tim dropped napalm with "Like all regular people I knew growing up in the heartland, JD studied at Yale..." He should keep deploying that line...

Punching at air

It's amazing how often you see the top-left type post these days.... "Hey, get a load of those freaks! [insert picture of normal looking family]"

Yeah, we can talk all we want about home state advantages, but I don't know that there was a match on a more fundamental level here

I see Vance made a comment about how Walz' burned Minneapolis to the ground.... which is weird, because it was, umm, still there and standing and all the last time I was there (about a year ago)?

The guy has a Bachelors from Chadron State ffs lol

Wow

This makes a lot of sense as the bear case for Shapiro... And Fetterman, given his stance on I/P, gives it more weight IMO

This is ultimately right IMO