Given that presidential elections are determined largely by the so-called independents who “vote for the man not the party” Ask yourself, who would be easier to defeat given all we already knew about Biden’s diminished and diminishing capacities? Biden or an even last-minute substitute? Biden is that bad. The truthful answer surely is that Biden is the worse case scenario for Dems (and they do not have a great alternative scenario).
Trump’s agreeing to debate so early, prior to the best chance for locking in the Dems with Biden, exposed Biden incontrovertibly too early thus giving the opposition the chance to change horses and or double up on a “vote Democrat” strategy.
Mr. 4D chess, out of utter bravado, instead of saying ~~ we will debate all you want after our parties’ nominating conventions ~~ (it is not like Triump doesn’t dodge debates) handed his opponents the opportunity for a revised playing board and a substitute king.
Biden was known to be so bad that it would be impossible, except through an incompetent campaign, to portray him as anything but a train wreck just on policy (the border, inflation) regardless of his apparent dementia. From many months ago, prior to the Republican caucuses and primaries it was soberly clear that any of several of the Republican contenders could defeat Dementia Joe. Well as long as the top contender remained loyal and didn’t go egotistically unpatriotically independent from the party whose substrate was TEA Party / MAGA (something that leading contender did not create).
Does it not make sense to maneuver so as to go against the weakest of one’s enemies and end that battle more decisively rather than unnecessarily cooperate in foreseeably giving the enemy lifelines, however remote?
If Biden drops out prior to or because of the Dem convention it is substantially Trump’s doing and it is arguably at least marginally to our and his detriment. It is a strategic error, hopefully not overwhelming. It needn’t be but then Trump lost to the likes of Joe Biden before. He (and the GOP) should have been able to overwhelm any cheating. Trump’s aura not his policies got in the way of superficial voters and most voters are superficial.