<p>It is becoming increasingly apparent that President Biden will not be capable of serving as President for the next five and a half years. While there is a public belief that he will not finish a second term, his more frequent and more serious gaffes and senior moments raise the question as to whether he will complete his first term.</p>
<p>Both Biden and President Trump are in the “anything can happen” stage of life. Biden’s increasingly obvious decline is becoming too obvious to be covered up by staff reports and limited exposure. While he is the odds-on favorite to secure the Democrat nomination, the odds of his stepping aside, being pressured to quit or facing a viable opponent are increasing.</p>
<p>Biden’s abysmal polling numbers are clear evidence of what the voters are seeing. More than 70 percent want Biden to drop out of the 2024 race – and that includes 58 percent of Democrats. Most voters say he is too old and too incapable physically and mentally. And more than a third of the electorate believes Biden will not complete a second term. I would call that a safe bet.</p>
<p>That does not mean those Democrats will not vote for him if the binary choice is him or Trump. Just a many voters who do not want to see Trump as the GOP standard bearer will vote for him if the only other options is Biden.</p>
<p>In a recent speech Biden gave an account of his reason for running in 2020 two times within a few minutes &#8212; almost word for word. That is what old folks do when they are starting to lose it.</p>
<p>He struggles to recall names – often pausing and then falling back on a description. In talking about Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Biden seemed to be struggling for the name and then simply referred to him as “that fellow down under.” When talking about the Pentagon, he pointed to “that outfit over there.” Biden has long relied on crafted speeches and the teleprompter but even then he stumbles over words or loses his train of thought.</p>
<p>He is provided with crib sheets with the most basic instructions. One sheet was caught on camera – instructing him to enter the room … greet the guests … sit down in his chair. That is how you counsel someone who gets confused.</p>
<p>He more and more frequently seems disoriented and confused as to which direction he should proceed and when. Biden’s aides have been seen directing him. On one occasion he confused his sister with his wife. Biden walked away aimlessly from his wife at the G7 meeting. He seemed to walk off on his own before the ending of an awards ceremony in the White House.</p>
<p>Biden tends to reminisce about his past – and repeats personal stores that are not true, even though he has been called out on them. He claims he was arrested while trying to visit Nelson Mandela in jail … that he drove an 18-wheeler trailer truck … that he witnessed the collapse of a bridge in Pennsylvania … that he traveled to New York the day after 9/11 … that he taught a political science college course. All provably untrue.</p>
<p>All these “signs” point to mental decline – and are being recognized as such by the public despite the best efforts of the staff to hide them by making glowing public statements about his health and vitality. They point to moments when Biden seems strong and articulate. But anyone who has been around older folks knows that it is not uncommon for an elderly person in decline to have good moments and bad – with the bad occurring more frequently.</p>
<p>If Biden continues on this same trajectory over the next few months, it may be impossible for him to win the 2024 presidential election even if his opponent is Trump. Already they are in a statistical tie with Trump slightly ahead – notwithstanding the recent New Hampshire poll that shows Biden ahead.</p>
<p>There may be one of those “coming to Jesus” moments, when Biden will recognize the hopelessness of his ambition for a second term. He would then drop out of the race. Or … he could resign in the waning days of his presidency as a favor to his Vice President – making Kamala Harris the President of the United States. That would give her the edge on a future run. Something that is not in the cards at this moment unless Biden hands her the presidency..</p>
<p>This is not outside the realm of possibility. It is something that should keep us praying that old Joe will at least make it to Election Day 2024</p>
<p>So, there ‘tis.</p>

Harris in 2024 … or sooner?
