Four years ago, as the improbable campaign of Donald Trump gained traction week by week, we often in these reports used the phrase, “this most unusual campaign.” Little did we know what awaited us.
Since the semi-official “kickoff” of this presidential election year back in February with the Iowa Caucuses and the New Hampshire Primary, a candidate whose campaign was declared dead on February 11 went on to clinch the Democratic Party nomination. The incumbent president, who is seeking a second term, was impeached by the House of Representatives.
Close on the heels of that failed effort a virus was unleashed upon the world that touched off a global pandemic. To combat the spread of disease, a roaring economy was deliberately scuttled. Travel was brought to a standstill. Tens of millions of Americans were forced out of their jobs. We’re all still wearing masks. Many who still have jobs are working at home. We are still a long way from “normal.”
Most unusual campaign? Ten months of unprecedented tumult precede an election day that promises to be like none we have ever experienced.
As this really unusual campaign rounds the fourth turn both candidates are making their closing arguments. Speaking at a campaign event in Atlanta, Georgia, Joe Biden criticized the president’s handling of the pandemic.
This administration has yet to offer a single plan. That’s one of the reasons one of the most prestigious medical journals in the world – the New England Journal of Medicine – called the president “dangerously incompetent.”
On the subject of health care, Biden went on to blast the president over his successful nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to succeed Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the Supreme Court. (note carefully the figures that Biden cites in this cut.)
Trump got his Supreme Court justice and you know why, it’s clear to everybody now – to destroy the Affordable Care Act – to take away the health care for 20 million Americans who have it. And over 100,000 – a hundred thousand who are covered because they have preexisting conditions for the first time. Including 340…340,000 Georgians.”
For his part, the president is making his case every day in one or another of the battleground states. Yesterday he was in Michigan.
In 2016 Michigan voted to fire this corrupt political establishment and you elected an outsider as president who is finally putting America first. We’re putting it first…”
And despite the fact that most of the major polls show Biden with a commanding lead (the same polls that showed Hillary Clinton with a similar lead in 2016 we must point out), the president is upbeat and optimistic as he speaks to very large crowds at as many as three campaign events per day.
Right now we’re leading…in almost everywhere. The real…we’re leading almost everywhere. (cheering) Now I gotta say I’m working my ass off here…” (cheering)
Tuesday is at last election day. More than 60 million Americans have already voted. The data argues that you should bet on Joe Biden to win the election.
But I’d caution against betting the rent money.