
<p>The post-NATO press conference was billed as another make-or-break inflection point for President Biden – as were his State of the Union Speech, the debate, and the CNN Stephanopoulos interview. ; None of those highly promoted events lived up to the billing.</p>



<p> The closest was the debate. While it did not end Biden’s campaign, it put it into a tailspin. It unleashed panic among the Democrat political, media and donor classes. It at once forced Biden to come out of his bubble – and it made every future event seem like a make-or-break situation.</p>



<p>None of the past events forced Biden out of the race, but they also did not tamp down the increasing number of calls for him to withdraw from the race.</p>



<p>Since the beginning of the year, Biden has been on the losing end of a very close race according to the polls. President Trump has been on the leading side of most polls – but generally within the margin of error. More importantly, Trump has been doing better in the battleground states.</p>



<p>Most pundits and analysts on both sides have had the mantra for months: “If the election were today, Trump would win. ; But the election is not today.”</p>



<p>By most measures – especially the low hurdle to be overcome – Biden did ok. ; All he had to do was not fall into one of those obvious senior moments the White House staff worries about &#8230; a lot. ; If the debate had not happened, his performance at the post-NATO press conference would have been unremarkable – a modestly reported mediocre event. ; It would have changed nothing.</p>



<p>Ironically, it was an intensely scrutinized event by the media, political stakeholders and the American public – and based on early reports, it appears to have changed nothing. ;</p>



<p>Biden revealed some of his grasp on foreign policy, for which he is famous. ; But there were those moments. ; He referred his running mate as “Vice President Trump” – after earlier introducing Ukrainian President Zelenskyy as “President Putin.” ; ; ; He stumbled around rhetorically on several occasions – abruptly stopping as if he lost his train of thought. ; In normal times, they would not seem noteworthy, but these are not normal times.</p>



<p>The issue that seemed to give him the most difficulty in setting aside concerns was the question of a formal neurological test. He again demurred – but said he would take one if his doctor advised. Given his age and his symptoms, there is not a competent doctor on earth who would not recommend the test. Biden is rejecting the test because he knows he would have difficulties passing it.</p>



<p>Overall, Biden did a good job &#8212; but not good enough to restore confidence that he can win and serve four more years. ; He still professes his determination to stay in the race &#8230; and win. ; Conversely, the pressure on him to get out is continuing to rise. ; Within minutes of the end of the press conference, two more Democrat members of the House called on him to withdraw – others are expected to follow (or may have done so by the time you read this).</p>



<p>Members of his party are now openly saying that Biden cannot win. ; Vermont Senator Peter Welch was the first. ; Colorado Governor Michael Bennett went further. ; He foresees Trump winning in a landslide, taking the House and Senate with him &#8212; and others have made similar predictions.</p>



<p>While the national polls have the race as essentially a tie, that is not what members of Congress are reporting in their districts. ; The panic in the Democrat ranks is not without justification. ; The dream of regaining control of the House has been essentially abandoned with Biden at the head of the ticket. ; And most pundits have already written off the Senate to the GOP. ;</p>



<p>What most Democrats seem to be seeing is a longshot win with a new standard bearer or a sure loss with Biden. ; While most media folks talk about the 180 days to the election, they have forgotten that the first early voting is in little more than 60 days – barely a month after the Democrat convention in August.</p>



<p>The idea that there are special make-or-break events in the future is no longer valid. ; Every time he ventures out of his protective bubble it is a make-or-break event. Biden has cleared (barely) the hurdle of the press conference &#8212; but there is nothing but hurdles between now and Election Day. ; And Biden has to clear every one of them.</p>



<p>So, there ‘tis.</p>

Biden barely survives another hurdle … and on to the next one
