USA 2024 presidential election

The President of the USA is the most powerfully elected position in the world. It has knock on affects in lots of areas that are relevant to people outside of the USA. Some of the most obvious ones:

1. The Russian invasion of Ukraine (and the knock-on affects for people all over the EU of that). There's currently 100k Ukrainian refugees in Ireland alone. If Trump wins and cuts off support to Ukraine we're likely to see many more waves of refugees from areas "liberated" by Russian forces.
2. Relations with China and potential tariff wars which would affect the global economy
3. The prominence of legislative attempts to fight Climate Change which affects everyone on the planet whether they like it or not.

That's all besides the point though. You don't have to have skin the game to take an interest in something. Millions of people from all over the world follow the English premier league who have never set foot in the UK.

Other people, such as the people who choose to contribute to a forum dedicated to politics, take an interest in current affairs from all over the world.

I have no interest in Marvel movies, Country & Western music or Horse Racing. I don't go around asking why other people do care about those things though. Different people like different things.

I think it's becoming increasingly clear that the debate has dealt a hammer blow to Biden's hopes.

I have my doubts about Harris as a replacement. Sadly, I think the fact she is a woman will be used by Trump backers as a negative against her. They'll say a woman can't be expected to stand up to Putin and others, and I suspect that argument will gain traction in certain quarters. Tragic since Trump will likely roll over and have his tummy ticked by Putin just like last time.

Could they put someone else forward? Not sure. But at this point, asking Biden to step aside looks the best chance to win.

Oh Joe…

Nothing like a convicted felon who has promised to be a dictator on day one to bring a bit of global stability.

Stability is gone and it's not coming back anytime soon. It's nothing to do with the POTUS either unfortunately. The fight for access to and control over natural resources is here to stay and will only get worse.

The world was pretty stable all told during the 2010's but no one person brought about this stability. Trump dropping a moab on some Isis lads in the mountains is entry level stuff.

Keeping China, Russia and the Sahel region of Africa in check from now on is a completely different kettle of fish.

It's quite interesting to think about.

He spoke for over an hour including a long Q&A. He mixed up 2 names, which he corrected quickly, which is still not great given the context, but should hardly be a nail in the coffin.

Unfortunately for him, the debate happened, and was bad, so every slip gets magnified.

I do actually think that the American media want a Trump win, from a purely self-serving perspective. I'd imagine on both sides that Fox, CNN, MSNBC ratings have been on the slide since the switch from Trump to Biden. Quiet competent presidencies don't get people watching the news in the same way that unhinged nutjobs do. The almighty dollar ultimately talks in the media world.

They jump on every Biden gaffe, but you only really seem to see social media presences showing some of the madness and dodgy stuff coming out on the Trump side.

Two pretty huge mix ups tbh

there is a lot of chat here about Harris not being liked, etc, etc, etc. but when the voter goes to the voting booth will they then vote for Trump - given his COLOURFUL RECORD?

The minimum the Democrats need is someone to be able to counter Trump and his lies that he will spouting at the next debate.

Biden couldn't do that a few weeks ago.

It doesn't matter how likeable Harris is, she just has to expose Trump at every opportunity.

A big part of Labour winning in the UK last week was that they weren't the Conservatives.

It's the same for the Democrats.

Easy for me to say here I know, but Biden doesn't look like he is capable of a long tough slog against Trump.

I think Biden showcased an excellent display of foreign policy knowledge with a level of detail and understanding that is literally impossible for Trump to achieve. But the problem is that the headlines are dominated by him saying 'President Putin' and 'VP Trump'. There is a world of difference between making a slip up on a name and actually believing Trump is the VP, but the media is treating it with the severity of the latter. Biden has been making gaffes his entire career so it is nothing new.

But ultimately this comes down to his ability to win this election and not whether he is able to function as president. That is the conflict between Candidate Biden and President Biden. I think President Biden's ability to do his job effectively is making it difficult for Candidate Biden to see the major electability problems he has even when faced with a raving idiot like Trump.

The president is a figurehead, if he comes across as overly frail/declining that's more important to many voters than his level of understanding, or statesmanship or any of that. Trump makes gaffes as well, but he can deliver them with much more energy than Biden. He's no spring chicken, but the bar is Biden here.

Optics are very important.

Biden is doing exceptionally well for an 82 year old, but that doesn't cut it on the world stage, and with his mental acuity under scrutiny every gaff he makes is compounding the overall view that he's simply "too old" for another presidency.

He's dead in the water in the election. They will absolutely have to run somebody, anyone else.

Usually they shouldn't switch the incumbent out, but this situation is exceptional. People are worried about the "newness" factor but I think it would work well for the Dems especially as they are running against another incumbent.

Any Dems who think Biden has any chance are completely and utterly disconnected from US voters who will absolutely put a felon/rapist/grifter/bigot in over someone they perceive as frail.

That is a damning indictment of the current American electorate. But I agree with you in general. I am 60 / 40 on Biden leaving the race based on his electability, but if he does, the democrats absolutely have to pick a candidate as quickly as possible. They can't suffer through a bruising primary contest so close to the election.

Trump got 74 million votes on his last run. That's 74 million that wanted him as president.

Yet less than Biden's votes, by a considerable margin

I agree that Biden would struggle greatly against someone like Mitt Romney but that's not who he's up against.

He's struggling badly enough against Trump to make it likely he will lose the election narrowly. Very possible he would lose by a bigger margin to a more mainstream Republican but in this contest the margin of victory ultimately matters little…

I replied to post tounge and cheek with Biden's quotes pretty much showing he's what you say republicans are.

Did it really need to be censored by someone and deleted. Should I reply with his exact unmodified quotes or will that be deleted/censored as well.

I'd take Mitt Romney over either of the two running

Yeah, that picture will be iconic.

I was getting a little more confident that Biden/Harris may pull it out due to how toxic Trump is , but this might be a wrap unfortunately.

If it was a genuine assassination attempt, why not use bullets?