On 7/21/2024 7:20 PM, Fagley K. Sherman wrote:
> WASHINGTON, July 21 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden's decision to end
> his reelection campaign on Sunday followed a series of strategic missteps by
> his campaign team and White House aides that amplified concerns that the 81
> -year-old president wouldn't be able to win in November's election, or run
> the country for another four years.
>
> Biden's halting performance at the June 27 presidential debate against
> Republican candidate Donald Trump, pushed even some of his closest allies to
> question whether he could endure a full campaign, and added gasoline to a
> smoldering Democratic party movement questioning the wisdom of his second
> term.
>
> Within days, Biden went from the party's figurehead to a liability. He
> became the first sitting president to stand down from a possible reelection
> since Lyndon B. Johnson in 1968.
>
> These were some of the key moments that led to Biden's downfall.
>
>
> Biden himself set the debate in motion, after he told radio show host Howard
> Stern in April that he'd debate Trump, despite worries from some of his
> Democratic allies that a debate might do little to improve his chances or
> even cast an unflattering light on him.
>
> Some Biden aides thought they had scored a coup in agreeing to a June
> debate. They worked with broadcaster CNN to shape the rules in what they
> thought was their favor and agreed on May 15 to two debates, including the
> first on June 27.
>
> An earlier debate would serve Biden well, some aides thought, convincing
> voters that there was no other anti-Trump option in the race, but also
> cushioning the blow of any mediocre performance by the president.
>
> The format - no audience to pump up Trump's punchlines, no third-party
> candidates, moderators they could trust and a mute button on the
> microphones- would, they thought, favor Biden's style.
>
> JET LAG - JUNE 4 TO 27
>
> Biden flew to Europe twice and to the West Coast over a 14-day period before
> taking just a few days to rest at his vacation home in Rehoboth Beach,
> Delaware.
>
> Biden was tired and dragging by the end of the travel, according to several
> people who observed him during this period.
>
> He and his aides headed to Camp David for focused prep sessions on June 21,
> where they peppered Biden with details, then followed up with mock debates
> for the better part of seven days.
>
> A BAD NIGHT - JUNE 27
>
> In CNN's Atlanta studios, Biden stumbled over his words and lost his train
> of thought. His delivery, appearance and voice drew the immediate attention
> of reporters, who asked his aides for an explanation.
>
>
> Biden's hoarseness would improve as the debate went on but his disjointed
> answers took voters, donors and Democratic officials by surprise. One
> Democratic strategist called it "a disaster."
>
> Trump, 78, repeated a series of well-worn, glaring falsehoods during the 90
> -minute debate, including claims that he actually had won the 2020 election.
> Biden failed to refute them, leaving sentences and thoughts unfinished.
>
>
> FALLOUT - JUNE 27 TO JULY 2
>
> "I know I'm not a young man, to state the obvious," Biden said the day after
> the debate, admitting a poor performance. "Nearly fell asleep on stage," he
> said on July 2.
>
> Calls for Biden to step down would start in the hours after the debate.
> Calls from Biden aides to worried Democrats facing reelection campaigns who
> saw their political futures flashing before their eyes, wouldn't start until
> days later.
>
> Some lawmakers started to break ranks, starting with U.S. Representative
> Lloyd Doggett on July 2, and then gathering steam.
>
> Angry donors told Biden's aides they would need to see a turnaround in the
> candidate's performance. Senior Democrats and Biden allies also began to
> hint at changes to the ticket.
>
> House of Representatives Democrat Jim Clyburn - a kingmaker of sorts within
> the Democratic Party who was instrumental in Biden's 2020 win - said on July
> 2 that he would back Vice President Kamala Harris if Biden did depart and
> suggested the idea of a "mini-primary" if Biden stepped aside.
>
> Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a longtime Biden ally, said it was
> legitimate to ask whether Biden's performance in Atlanta was an "episode" or
> a condition. She also hinted that Biden would need to examine his choice to
> say in the race.
>
> THE DAM BREAKS - JULY 5 TO 8
>
> Biden would fail to quiet the chorus of dissent.
>
> In his first major interview after the debate, on July 5, Biden told ABC
> News anchor George Stephanopoulos that only the "Lord Almighty" could cast
> him from the race.
>
> More worrying to some Democrats, Biden said he could accept remaining in the
> race and losing to Trump "as long as I gave it my all and I did as good a
> job as I know I can do."
>
> Thirty-six Democratic U.S. lawmakers and one independent who caucuses with
> the Democrats would ultimately call for Biden to step off the ticket over
> the 24 days that followed the debate.
>
> NATO, POLLS - JULY 9 TO 12Biden tried to move on. He gave interviews, held a
> press conference and gave stern speeches on the campaign trail as well as at
> the NATO summit of U.S. allies.
>
> But the events sometimes raised more concerns than they quieted.
>
> At the NATO summit during the second week of July, Biden mixed up the names
> of his vice president Harris and his Republican rival Trump, and those of
> Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Russian President Vladimir
> Putin, whose countries are at war with each other.
>
> Polls showed Biden trailing other Democrats in many of the key states and
> districts Democrats need to win in November, though polls nationwide
> continued to point to a close race.
>
> Biden was unmoved, still believing he was the best candidate to face Trump,
> that he could rebound from this setback as he has so many times before, a
> view reinforced by a close circle of aides.
>
> TRUMP RALLY SHOOTING - JULY 13
>
> Trump was shot while giving a speech in Pennsylvania. The bullet grazed his
> ear, bloodied his face, and photos of the former president holding up his
> fist in defiance were shown widely.
>
> Republicans spoke of divine providence, unifying around their candidate.
> Democrats worried if their own chances were cursed, seeing only a narrower
> path to any victory in November.
>
> Days later, Biden got COVID while campaigning in Nevada. Recuperating at his
> Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, home, he would be left with time, alone and in
> isolation, to decide whether and how to end his campaign.
>
> Get weekly news and analysis on the U.S. elections and how it matters to the
> world with the newsletter On the Campaign Trail. Sign up here.
>
> Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt; Editing by Heather Timmons, Alistair Bell and
> Leslie Adler
>
> https://www.reuters.com/world/us/final-days-how-biden-his-inner-circle-
> blew-it-2024-07-21/

And blow it they did.

The only success was that Joe Biden has not died in office putting that
stupid woman in the oval office. Keep living Joe!