CHRIS CRUCIAL: How does Biden fix this?

PLUS: The case for Kamala

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A quick note: This is a slightly shortened version of “Chris Crucial” as I am running out to watch my younger son’s All Star baseball game! And there will be no nightly newsletter tomorrow as I take the day (mostly) off to celebrate July 4 with my family. Thanks! — Chris

1. The Un-Fixable

Let’s do a thought experiment. You are a member of President Joe Biden’s political inner circle. Today.

You are faced with increasing calls from influential Democrats to, at a minimum, think HARD about whether you should stay in the race.

Post-debate polling conducted by credible news organizations shows your candidate has fallen behind Donald Trump.

Reporting in the wake of your candidate’s debate debacle last week suggests that it was a) not an isolated incident b) he’s getting worse and c) top aides worked to conceal the truth of his deterioration from the broader party and the public.

So, what do you DO? How do you fix this problem?

I’ll wait.

The simple fact is that there isn’t anything you can do. Not if you are being honest with yourself.

Here’s why: Even before the debate, a majority of voters had, for the better part of the past 18 months, expressed deep reservations about Biden’s ability to do the job of president because of his advanced age.

The campaign expressly agreed to an early presidential debate in hopes of putting to rest the “is he up to this” questions prior to the party conventions.

And then last Thursday happened. In front of a TV audience of more than 51 million people. And with millions more getting up to speed on the debate — and Biden’s performance — in the hours and days following the debate.

To my mind, that is simply unfixable — because it affirms what people already thought about Biden. And leaves a lasting and awful impression of him stumbling and fumbling to answer a question.

I mean..

What the Biden campaign is doing is this: A TAPED sitdown with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos on Friday followed by a rally in the swing state of Wisconsin later that day.

I have a very hard time believing that will work. The ABC interview isn’t live — which is the format Biden had so much trouble with last week. And the rallies are speeches read off a teleprompter in front of an adoring crowd. Not even close to the same thing as a live presidential debate.

Let’s just say Biden is totally lucid and good in both of those events — which is uniquely possible! Do you really think that the people who watched the debate, many of whom, I would remind you, already thought Joe Biden was too old to be president, are going to say: “Well, I’m convinced! He’s totally fine!”

Not. Going. To. Happen.

I know the Biden people disagree. They believe that if he is good in the ABC interview and good on the campaign trail that all of this talk about him needing to drop out will go away. Or at least get quieter.

I just don’t buy it. The way for Biden to have combated the “he’s too old” attack was, months ago, to start doing live press conferences and interviews with the media.

He didn’t do that. He did the opposite. And I think we know why now — his team was worried that if they put him out there in public repeatedly we might see the side of Biden that we saw last Thursday. And that would be a disaster.

They were right about the disaster part. But now, with less than 5 weeks until the national party convention and just 125 days between today and election day, it’s just extremely hard for me to imagine putting the age/competence genie back in the bottle.

Even if Biden did a live weekly press conference — and took questions until there were no questions left for reporters to ask and totally and completely nailed it — I am not sure that provides the proof that voters would need that he is, in fact, not deteriorating.

Because, sure, he can be good in one press conference, once a week. But what about all the other times when he is not on camera? And what about THAT debate????

The ABC interview. The rallies. It’s all aimed at buying Biden time. But it won’t fix the underlying problem. I don’t think that problem can be fixed now.

2. The Case for Kamala

If Biden does end his campaign, I’ve said that I think Vice President Kamala Harris is the most likely Democratic nominee.

While her poll numbers aren’t amazing and she has struggled as VP, I think there’s a credible case to make that she gives Democrats a better chance to win at this point than does Biden.

I made that case in a video for my YouTube channel today. Subscribe!

NOTABLE QUOTABLE

“Absolutely not.” — White House press secretary Karine Jean Pierre when asked if Joe Biden is planning to step down

ONE GOOD CHART

How proud are you to be an American? That depends on your party affiliation, according to Gallup.

SONG OF THE DAY

I’ve mentioned music critic Steven Hyden in this space before. He’s great! And on June 27, he released his list of the best music of the year so far. I missed it because, um, something else big was happening that day. But there’s TONS of great music on his list — including the new Blitzen Trapper album, which rocks.

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