Former President Donald Trump's effort to return to the Oval Office next year may be President Joe Biden's best prospect for his own reelection. Biden won his first term in large part because his opponent was Trump, a political neophyte. Trump demonstrated little capacity to do the job, to the degree that Biden was elected as the only alternative.
Today, public opinion polls are beginning to find slippage in Trump's hold on many of his previously secure supporters. Even Fox News has seemingly abandoned the former president. In a remarkable statement released as part of an ongoing lawsuit involving the media outlet, anchor Tucker Carlson denounced Trump in the strongest words. "I hate him passionately," Carlson said.
In internal documents released as part of that same lawsuit, Fox Corp. Chairman Rupert Murdoch weighed in with his belief that Trump was "increasingly mad." In his deposition, Murdoch not only disputed the claim that the 2020 election was stolen, but he also admitted that Trump had been a "sore loser." The end of Trump's political honeymoon with television's preeminent conservative news analysis outlet appears in view.
All this reinforces the notion that Trump is a fading phenomenon and another reason for Biden to remind voters that he is not "The Donald." On an even more positive note for his reelection prospects, Biden has been touting his efforts against domestic inflation and presenting his presidency as a work in progress.
Traveling as a reporter covering Biden in his hometown in Delaware, I was struck by how often he was praised by local constituents for his down-to-earth manner. When I would raise his penchant for talking too much and committing verbal gaffes, his neighbors would simply dismiss it, remarking, "That's Joe."
Top line: Biden continues to benefit politically for not being Trump. And that's why a second presidential challenge from Trump next year shouldn't worry Biden's supporters.
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Jules Witcover is the author of 15 books on American politics and history and co-author of five others. His solo books include Marathon: The Pursuit of the Presidency 1972-1976 and Joe Biden: A Life of Trial and Redemption.