If Joe Won't Go...

It's been a helluva week. Here's the state of play in American presidential politics.

STATE OF PLAY

With the GOP convention wrapped up and DONALD TRUMP officially the party’s nominee, Democrats aren’t absolutely certain who Trump will run against in November. 

Amid a flurry of public statements from Congressional Democrats, both in safe and swing districts, calling on JOE BIDEN to bow out, the Biden campaign issued a statement directly from the President saying he’s looking forward to hitting the campaign trail next week, just as soon as he recovers from covid. 

Since his clumsy debate performance near the end of June, Biden and his team have convinced themsleves, and have attempted to assure his Party’s faithful, that the poor showing stemmed from jet lag, a cold, overpreparation, general memory-related issues for a guy in his 80s, and his lifelong stutter, for coming up with gems like, “We finally beat Medicare.”

In defending his status as the Democrat leader, he’s encouraged doubters over and over again, “Watch me.” And they have.