We could go back further, but let's start in 2012…
Then Vice-President Joe Biden was set to debate GOP boy-genius wunderkind Paul Ryan. Biden was seen as a gaff-prone old man (This is nothing new) that would surely make an ass of himself against Mitt Romney's young and intelligent VP pick being hailed as the future of the GOP. Democrats were nervous. Republicans were expecting an easy victory.
What actually happened? Biden made Paul Ryan look like a rookie kid as he laughed and smiled that famous smile throughout the debate. Biden waved off Ryan's numbers and figures defense of austerity and responded with common sense wisdom.
In the end, Biden looked like a seasoned statesman. Ryan looked like a scared little boy.
Obama/Biden went on to win reelection handily.
Fast forward to 2019…
Biden was viewed as the boring establishment pick in a very crowded Democratic primary.
The first debate did not go well for Biden. He failed to make a strong impression while Kamala Harris blasted him for his stance on forced busing many decades ago. Kamala Harris won the night and the pundits and political class told us that Biden was finished, done, over (Sound familiar?).
What actually happened? Biden turned it around and consolidated enough support to not only win the primary, but win the general election with Kamala Harris as his VP.
On to 2022…
Now President Biden was in trouble yet again. His approval was under water. Inflation was through the roof. The economy was still struggling to fully rebound from Covid and there was a mid term election coming that the pundits and political class told us was going to be an epic red wave worse than in 2010.
This would not have been shocking as most Presidents historically have lost the midterms to the opposing party during their first term.
What actually happened? Biden and the Democrats GAINED seats in the Senate and the GOP BARELY took the House in what was supposed to be a red wave like we've never seen before according to the talking heads.
Now…
Biden had maybe one of the worst debate performances in recent history. It took already growing concerns about his age and fitness to serve as President and poured gasoline on them. It was really bad.
A sizable fraction of the Democratic party want him to drop out and be replaced. The media is pounding non-stop that the Biden campaign is in disarray and despite him clearly saying he is not going anywhere, are telling us that any moment, he will drop out as the consequences of this one debate grow worse and worse.
What will happen? I don't know.
I do know that it would be a big mistake to count Biden out and underestimate him. He has clawed back from the abyss time and time again.
I do know that Joe Biden is the only person that has ever beat Trump.
I do know that America loves a good comeback story.
I do know that they've always underestimated Joe Biden…
And that is how he beats them.