Prominent host of ‘Real Time’, Bill Maher, recently raised concerns over President Biden’s unexpected urge to leap into public debates, suggesting such a move is a signal that Biden is aware of his dwindling support. Maher, in a refreshingly frank tone characteristic of his HBO show, revived his plea to reconsider Biden’s place in the Democratic Party, posing the question, ‘Isn’t it time for a new candidate?’
Echoing the thoughts of many, Maher’s inference that Biden’s newfound desire to debate indicates a self-realization of a losing position comes at a time of surprise. Most notably, Maher kicked off a spirited conversation on his Friday night show by stating, ‘The one on the losing side is always the one eager to debate.’
Maher’s bewilderment stems from the unprecedented call for a summer debate, particularly since the first debate is tentatively slated for a June 27th showdown, even before the conventional political party conventions. He said, ‘They haven’t even convened the convention yet!’
Joining the dialogue on Maher’s show, the usually sharp and witty Free Press journalist Nellie Bowles, offered her quip, ‘Well, they aren’t getting any younger.’. This was in reference to the decision of Biden to accept the challenge of an early debate.
According to Maher, President Biden’s sudden agreement to square off with ex-President Trump in a debate points towards a recognition of slipping support. This topic led Maher to question the significance of the debates, inquiring, ‘Will any of this alter the election’s outcome?’
In the same discussion, New York Times’ Pamela Paul dismissed the importance of these debates stating she believes they ‘won’t be deciding factors’, while Bowles provided a counterpoint by hinting at the possibility of the debates swaying public sentiment.
Maher, with his distinctive eye for political observation mentioned, ‘To me, Biden has more to convince people about. We already know what Trump is capable of. He will stay true to his unconventional approach -a quality that some find appealing. But people want assurance about Biden’s vitality.’
Maher raised a pertinent issue that viewers would tune in to scrutinize if Biden exhibited ‘proof of life’ during the debates. Paul tackled this by reminding viewers that Biden had proven his capacity for engaging oratory on occasions before, likely referring to his earlier State of the Union Address.
The overall tone turned towards humor when Bowles alluded to the potential need for ‘drug testing’ prior to the debates, highlighting the high stakes and intense pressure these political face-offs can exert.
Maher, with a nod towards the changing political landscape, commented that public opinion seemed to be shifting. He mused, ‘After the last election, the general sentiment seemed to be, ‘Trump is done.’ But just a year later, realizations were starkly contrasting -‘Well, he’s staying in the race.’ Fast forward to the present, and now it’s almost as if the consensus is leaning towards Biden’s inability to win.’
Maher mentioned a curious observation about key swing states, ‘Biden is trailing in these crucial battleground states, except perhaps Wisconsin. Even more intriguing is that while democratic Senate candidates in these states seem to hold steady, Biden is falling behind. This begs the question – is it the candidate or the party that is off the mark?’
Echoing the concerns of many, Maher wondered aloud, ‘Is it too late for a switch?’ noting that while the Democratic party’s Senate candidate isn’t losing in states where Biden is falling short, the same support isn’t conveyed for him. It reveals something about the electoral needs – they’re simply not seeing Biden as the preferable choice, regardless of his previous successes.
The discussion also touched on the rather somber possibility of President Biden, now aged 81, facing a health crisis. This was immediately clarified by Maher to ensure listeners understood they were ‘not vying for it’.
Lightening the air again, Maher wittily framed their dialogue, saying they seemed to be ‘talking like three children around a hospital bed.’ A classic note of comic relief in Maher’s shows, the commentary sparked both laughter and thought among the viewers.
Maher had previously made a case for seeking a different Democratic candidate following the release of Special Counsel Robert Hur’s report. This report raised serious questions about President Biden’s mental sharpness and, in the eyes of Maher and others, necessitated revisiting the choice for Democratic ticket holder.
