r/politics • u/wsj The Wall Street Journal • 4d ago

I oversee the WSJ’s Washington bureau. Ask me anything about last night’s debate, where things stand with the 2024 election and what could happen next. AMA-Finished

President Biden’s halting performance during last night’s debate with Donald Trump left the Democratic Party in turmoil. You can watch my video report on the debate and read our coverage on how party officials are now trying to sort through the president’s prospects. 

We want to hear from you. What questions do you have coming out of the debate? 

What questions do you have about the election in general? 

I’m Damian Paletta, The Wall Street Journal’s Washington Coverage Chief, overseeing our political reporting. Ask me anything.

All stories linked here are free to read.

proof: https://imgur.com/a/hBBD6vt

Edit, 3:00pm ET: I'm wrapping up now, but wanted to say a big thanks to everyone for jumping in and asking so many great questions. Sorry I couldn't answer them all! We'll continue to write about the fallout from the debate as well as all other aspects of this unprecedented election, and I hope you'll keep up with our reporting. Thanks, again.

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42

u/AssassinAragorn Missouri 4d ago

Well, I'll go with the title. Where do things stand with the 2024 election, and what could happen next?

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u/wsj The Wall Street Journal 4d ago

Smart questions if I do say so myself!! Before the debate, Trump appeared to be slightly ahead of Biden, leading in almost all of the key swing states. Biden was still within striking distance though. We’ll all be paying special attention to the post-debate polls (which will start coming out very soon). If even Democrats are saying Biden’s night was a mess (which they are), then it can’t help his polling. Trump didn’t have a dominant performance, but contrasted with Biden - side by side on the stage - it helped Trump tremendously because Biden couldn’t effectively attack.

What could happen next?

  1. Fundraisers could flee, causing panic and forcing Democrats to decide whether to try and nudge Biden off the ticket.
  2. Trump’s Supreme Court ruling on immunity Monday could change the focus back to his legal problems.
  3. The race could slip further from Biden’s reach.
  4. He could mount a massive comeback.

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u/Mindless-Ad-9803 4d ago

Is Trump given a pass on the mountain of lies and wins the debate; even without answering almost any questions the public is interested in hearing? Or does the media not have a responsibility to the public to report actual truths?

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u/UnstoppablyRight 4d ago

It's never about the questions, it's not a test.

It's whoever is more appealing on stage. It's theatre baby

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u/KingHavana 4d ago

Like the Kerry vs Bush debates. Kerry proved absolute mastery over every single topic, and Bush proved his ignorance. However Kerry was accused of looking like a "know it all". People declared him the loser.

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u/regmaster 4d ago

Damn, and to think hundreds of thousands, if not millions of Middle Eastern folks could still be alive today if Kerry didn't come off as such a know it all. God damn we're so stupid.

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u/Mindless-Ad-9803 4d ago

Theatre? Or are you just looking for the circus. Trump will give you a show! So much fun, look at that, ooo so magical. Wow, I never thought such a fat ass could walk the tight rope. Wow! Oh no! He just killed his political opponent like he said he would! Ooo! An elephant.

I have more faith in the average American to not be swayed by the optics of a debate. But, if the media tells you Biden lost, and all your friends say Biden lost, and everyone says he should be replaced, it's hard to argue with. Meanwhile, Trump was Trump, so everyone just lets him be DEPLORABLE. Not a single word about his lies. It's irresponsible, and the WSJ is a key perpetrator.

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u/UnstoppablyRight 2d ago

The average American is severely incredibly susceptible to optics.     

I'm not sure how you can say otherwise with any self-awareness... 

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u/audaciousmonk 3d ago

Maybe for some of the shitty people in this country. For those of us who want a good president, it’s all about policy and experience. Devils in the details, a pretty face or loud voice isn’t worth much on its own.

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u/ReignOfKaos 3d ago

If that were true for most people, you wouldn’t have live debates, but carefully written answers to a set of specific policy questions. Debates are purely about how charismatic you come across.

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u/YummyArtichoke 4d ago

Everyone knows Trump lies and lies about everything. What Trump did last night is not news to anyone. What's going to change if the media say Trump lied?

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u/Mindless-Ad-9803 4d ago

Everyone knows Trump lies, but there could have been stories about how Putin evidently told him of his desire for Ukraine. Or how Trump refused to say he would concede. Or how he left the economy in tatters, and it recovered after he left office. That's just 3 things off the top of my head, the tip of the iceberg. None of this has to be pro Biden, but the media, or at least journalists have the duty to report these things. Just saying Biden is old or Trump is a liar isn't doing your job.

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u/lex99 America 4d ago

Thank you for saying this. I’m so sick of people going on about the media is ruining democracy. The info is out there, very clearly, for anyone who wants it.

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u/Mindless-Ad-9803 4d ago

The media is not ruining democracy, they are letting it die for money.

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u/lex99 America 4d ago

They call him out on his lies. What do you want, for CNN and ABC and CBS to say “Vote Biden”?

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u/Carrera1107 4d ago

What about Biden lying about being endorsed by border patrol union, the fine people hoax, no Americans dying under his presidency abroad, and inheriting 9% inflation (it was 2%)?

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u/Mindless-Ad-9803 4d ago

I mean, I can't be your personal politifact person, but the Border Patrol endorsed the immigration bill Biden wrote, which was killed by Republicans beholden to Trump. He did not say the border patrol endorsed him.

the fine people hoax

I don't know why you call it a hoax when you can see him say it. Watch it if you can stomach it. https://youtu.be/JmaZR8E12bs?si=mcW5Pki0WJI1O3wx

no Americans dying under his presidency abroad

I don't know your source on that wild claim, but I do know military personnel died in Afghanistan, and they are definitely American.

I don't remember hearing that during the debate. Show me a source and I'll believe you.

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u/Carrera1107 4d ago

He didn't say the bill last night the said the union and they responded to him. https://x.com/BPUnion/status/1806501048724430943

Why don't you actually watched the video you sent. He at 1:56 he condemns all the white nationalists. Why don't you actually start thinking for yourself. https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/trump-very-fine-people/

Biden said no American's died abroad under him. I don't think you actually watched the debate. https://freebeacon.com/biden-administration/biden-says-no-american-troops-died-on-his-watch-ignoring-13-deaths-during-botched-afghanistan-withdrawal/

I am not going to respond to you if you choose to respond to me here. I don't think you're a serious person.

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u/Mindless-Ad-9803 4d ago

😉 Where DO you want to respond?

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u/NobleNeon10 4d ago

the very fine people hoax: At 2:00 in the clip, Trump said: "I am not talking about the neo-Nazi's and white nationalists, should be condemned totally."

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u/Mindless-Ad-9803 4d ago

So, who were the fine people then? Can you illuminate that for me?

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u/NobleNeon10 4d ago

He describes it at 1:17, then at 2:40

The people that were there trying to protest the taking down of statues.

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u/Mindless-Ad-9803 4d ago

The confederate statues? Which celebrated when blacks were slaves? A time when white men had supremacy?

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u/Green_Bluejay9110 4d ago

If union civil war vets could have magnanimity, maybe you could too. I swear, yall are more tolerant of ISIS than White Southerners. 

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u/MaineEvergreen 4d ago

The clear message was that it was up to Biden to slam Trump when he lied, not have the moderators wag their fingers. If nearly any other elected Democrat was up there, they would've pulled this off. Biden tried to but would get lost in the middle and leave it at "what he said was a lie . . .

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u/tsaihi 4d ago

Yeah the media’s responsibility is to shareholders. Don’t expect them to help us protect democracy, they’re going to ride this fascist wave all the way to the bank. Just like they did in 2016.

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u/Miilph_Spaghetti 4d ago

im going to put it this way - a quarterback can throw 4 interceptions and zero touchdowns, but if his team wins he still gets the trophy. It is simply not a "pass", but more so an indication of how low the talent among presidential candidates currently sits.

Trump looked like a lying idiot - but if im outside a bar and need a ride home am i letting the sober lying idiot drive me home or the incapacitated drunk guy? Both are risks, but im taking the sober coherent person

The best answer i can do

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u/Mindless-Ad-9803 4d ago

I don't quite follow your first analogy, but I am asking why the WSJ didn't report about the lies, only at how one candidate appeared. Even in your analogy, both teams would be discussed.

To use your second analogy, Biden is quiet and a bit drunk, but everyone knows it. Trump is drunk, loud and lies about everything, but no one knows he is drunk, because the bar tender didn't tell you he was drunk, and no one who saw him drink told you either. And of course, he lies and says he's sober. You didn't even realize you were in danger until he drives your car off a cliff and tells you it's ok, because he is the best driver and he never drives over cliffs.

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u/Miilph_Spaghetti 4d ago

I think you missed the point of my analogy's purposely because you didnt like them lol yours dont hold water because clearly trump is simply more cognitively able than biden is.

Your initial question is about the media's responsibility to the public to report actual truths, but was it really? I will call it how it is - you watched the debate as a left leaning voter who has been told, and at the time believed, that the videos and memes about bidens lack of focus and giberrish comments and rambling moments were all deepfakes. Now you believed this mainly because you wanted to, but also because the media has groomed you to discredit anything they tell you to. For example you probably believed the media when they said trump was a russian asset and also when they said hunters laptop was russia disinformation and also when they said the diary was fake news and so why wouldnt you believe them when they all said that biden was mentally a killer and could mentally dominate and all this media about his lack of mental stability was a lie blah blah. You ate it up like the media and the left wanted you to.

and then the massive reality check hit last night. You immediately felt off when biden sluggishly walked to the podium as if he was holding a massive fart in and had to clinch his cheeks and waddle. The pit in your stomach grew when he couldnt connect his thoughts and ultimately you grew into a dark mental state realizing that the entire democratic party and their media pundits had lied to you about bidens mental ability. Quickly you connected the dots and realized this debate is the end for the democrats chances at beating trump. The outrage grew as trump did what trump always does and lied his ass off - youre screaming at the TV, possibly threw your mocktail at the TV and screamed "it cant end like this!" before ultimately storming into your bedroom to turn on Harry S to reneforce the last 1% of hope you had that this was all a dream and biden is actually a 45 year old hunk who can win this election. But then, your liberal friends who have a little common sense left text the group chat and theyre discussing how bad this is appearing to independent voters. They mention that CNN and MSNBC have all turned on biden. One shares an image of the CNN headline reading "Top Democratic officials in panic mode". You turn on the TV to confirm the chats comments - you see David Axlerod make a monologue about how every leader in the dem party is scrambling to discuss steps to remove biden from the candidacy. Youre breathing is heavy - you pour another mocktail to help you try and sleep, but sleep is hard with the end of the world happening before your eyes. Your questioning eveything now, but the anger comes in. You open twitter and see the democratic party immediately and in a coordinated fashion trying to do damage control. You see everyone who is clinging to the small hope for biden saying "BUT TRUMP LIED! CALL HIM OUT" and you quickly start to act. You repost the same talking points. Your hope and anger towards anyone who doesnt care that trump lied. Now its morning and you see this post. You make your comment since youre seeeeeeething at the fact that nobody seems to care about trump lying.

But my friend - its too late. And nobody expected trump not to lie. Nobody cared. Nobody cares. I will be the first to tell you trump is a trash candidate. But biden ended his political career in 90 minutes last night and thats all anyone needs to talk about right now. Its over.

I am sorry for your loss, i truely am since im sure you might actually be a sound person. But you need to point your anger toward your party. The only people who are to blame are your party. Simply put, the left had the lowest bar to meet, and biden missed that bar by a long shot last night. The party putting him in that position was the vital mistake. Lying to its supporters by claiming he was a mentally sound beast was just them pissing on you and telling you it was raining. I empathize with your outrage, your party dropped the ball and lied to your face. They will now appoint whomever they want to be the nominee without your vote mattering and that is unfair.

I wish you the best my good sir or madam ** virtual hug **

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u/Mindless-Ad-9803 4d ago

Oh my God! That was hilarious! Good show my boy, let me tip my hat to you.

You are certifiably crazy, but I like your dramatic bent. Keep swinging for the fences. Self publishing is only a decade away at most!

I have full faith in Biden and I will be knocking doors until election day because he is a great president. But, all that word vomit was entertaining, even if it was nonsense.

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u/Miilph_Spaghetti 4d ago

i mean you can have that full faith - but your party is absolutely not following you in terms of that faith. I have never seen CNN or MSNBC so worried about the democrats since 2016 election night. The democratic media as well as down ballot democrats are distraught with how bad biden performed.

You can lie to yourself and say you have this full confidence, but last night the entire democratic party was woken up to the reality that they are losing this election, and fast.

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u/Mindless-Ad-9803 4d ago

I have never seen CNN or MSNBC so worried about the democrats since 2016 election night. The democratic media as well as down ballot democrats are distraught with how bad biden performed.

This was my whole concern this whole time through this whole thread. The media is failing at reporting accurate representation of what happened.

I'm not lying, I have confidence in Biden and I will work to get him elected. Luckily for you, one citizen can make a difference in this country, for at least 6 more months. See you at the victory party.

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u/Miilph_Spaghetti 4d ago

the lies biden said werent an issue for you? since you are so hung on trumps lies as if you werent expecting trump to lie lol

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u/1_________________11 3d ago

It is his opponents job to point that out. His opponent was checked out of reality. 

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u/yannhaha 4d ago

You need to mention Biden's lie too.

Biden also didn't answer questions.

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u/Mindless-Ad-9803 4d ago

I refuse to play both sides, what do I look like? A JOURNALIST? Hahaha

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u/One-Mission-1345 4d ago

According to most analysis Trump lied 30 times and Biden 9 times. Trumps lies were just completely outlandish though, almost nothing he said was based in reality whereas Biden got a few things wrong but his statements were overall based in realism.

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u/Independent_Bar_9520 4d ago

Strikes me that the WSJ was one of the few media sources that reported Biden's dementia, and all y'all treated them as enemy propagandists for it while imbibing the lies coming from places such as the Daily Beast like crack cocaine.

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u/Mindless-Ad-9803 4d ago

Biden has not been diagnosed with dementia, so the WSJ reporting that would be speculation at best, or straight up lying at worst. I don't presume to know anything about the Daily Beast, I have never read it.

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u/Independent_Bar_9520 4d ago

"Don't trust your lying eyes, Biden is fine."

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u/DanoGuy 4d ago

HOW??????????????????????? HOW CAN A RAPIST, A CONVICTED CRIMINAL, WHO STOLE SECRETS, WHO SUBS FOR RUSSIA, IS A PATHOLOGICAL LIAR AND BRAGS ABOUT STROKE TESTS AND HAS ROE V WADE WRAPPED AROUND HIS THROAT BE AHEAD?

one day I will wake up from this coma - I know it.

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u/Aggravating_Pizza668 4d ago

Because we have a two-party system, and one of those parties is filled with uneducated, gullible voters who have been lured into fervently supporting a manipulative, narcissistic conman. And the rest of the country is now forced to rationalize and legitimize his success because he's now the leader of one of our two political parties.

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u/colluphid42 Minnesota 4d ago

This is the end result of how the GOP has operated since the 90s. They lied more and more, and it just kept working. And then along comes Trump, who lies about literally everything. And it still works! The GOP has accepted that truth doesn't matter now. Their voters are split between gullible true believers and people who are in on the scam but don't care about truth because they want to remake America into a theocracy.

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u/Aggravating_Pizza668 4d ago

Remember when the Tea Party was a fringe movement, not the entire Republican Party?

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u/BoomBapBiBimBop 3d ago

One day Washington elite will stop rolling their eyes when people complain about the two party system

And that day very well could be soon

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u/[deleted] 4d ago edited 4d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

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u/No-Fisherman6302 4d ago

We said the same thing when he picked her. He really back himself into a corner with it, never should have announced he was going to pick a woman VP. Unless he was planning on dying so the Dems could force in a woman prez since Hilary didn’t get it to thumb their noses at the R’s. Clearly that didn’t work* out and Harris is a stale potato.

*work, not wart

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u/Mindless-Ad-9803 4d ago

"DEI pick" My dog hears your whistle.

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u/NellucEcon 4d ago

It’s not a dog whistle.  He’s being quite explicit in saying that Biden picked Kamala because he wanted a black woman on the ticket and she was the black woman who ran in the primary.

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u/Pooopityscoopdonda 3d ago

You should be asking why your candidate is losing to that 

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u/I_make_things 4d ago

Because the news just wants to sell newspapers/views/whatever. They will ignore a mountain of lies to focus on someone flubbing lines in a debate, even if the intent behind those lines was perfectly clear.

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u/audaciousmonk 3d ago

Because a large part of the republican voter base actually hate America and freedom,  they’ll burn the country to the ground to rebuild it in their image. Control, Religion, Hate.

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u/Solid-Mud-8430 4d ago

Did you even watch the debate?? Democrats have insisted on propping up an extremely mentally impaired candidate who was somehow even more incoherent than Trump. Don't kid yourself...that debate was a fucking nightmare for Biden. I had to turn it off. He was drifting into whispers, staring into space with his mouth agape, saying bizarre things like "We finally defeated Medicare." It was a total mess.

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u/ScubaClimb49 4d ago

Because the other option is a frail old man slipping into senility who boasts his own history of extreme lying. Force people to pick between two turds and they're gonna make a crappy choice

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u/AdFrosty3860 4d ago

It’s called money.

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u/crazymemeer 4d ago

The Democrats have terrible PR you have a guy (Trump) who did very little to help the middle class as president. He did nothing to make healthcare or drugs affordable. He did nothing at the border before he could pass an order after covid hit. He actually screwed this cohntry during covid by acting like it was nothing and killed over a million people. He gave the wealthy a huve tax break while the middle class break is expiring. He also aleinated our alies . Why arent the democrats yelling this from the rooftops. And i hear very little pr on Bidens accompljshments. 

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u/Mindless-Ad-9803 4d ago

They are screaming from the rooftops. Unfortunately, the WSJ and many other publications don't care to print the truth that you just stated. They would rather keep us reading click bait about Biden being old then remind us of who Trump was.

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u/crazymemeer 4d ago

I guess what i would like to see is more air time being purchased thru local news outlets and more literature fom local democratic Mayors and Governors pushed out. I live in Chicago Il.  a democratic city. But Southern Il. Is more Republican.  Maybe more local and state air time would go farther. But who knows. I am just very scared what another Trump win will do to this Nation. Thank you for your response though much appreciated.

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u/Mindless-Ad-9803 4d ago

I just want to point out, now that you are finishing up, you haven't answered any questions from those of us who expressed concerns about the bias in your coverage and the lack of reporting on Trump. There are many concerns in this thread. Now would be a good time to acknowledge one, or admit you are unfairly biased.

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u/tsaihi 4d ago

or admit you are unfairly biased

He did that, he clearly stated he works for the WSJ

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u/better-a-pig 4d ago

Is the Court finally going to rule on that?

4

u/santino88 4d ago

Thank you for that absolutely pointless “Well Biden could win or Trump could win” analysis. Glad they pay you the big bucks.

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u/tvfeet Arizona 4d ago

Ask a stupid question, get a stupid answer.

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u/santino88 4d ago

Can’t disagree with that. In any case, the horserace worshipping political press needs to be told how terrible they are.

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u/AssassinAragorn Missouri 4d ago

In my defense, they posed that question to start with.

But not in my defense, I don't know what else I expected them to say.

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u/MarcusQuintus 4d ago

I think you're looking for a crystal ball. What you're doing is asking a human with no more available information than anyone else.
And yeah, the race is tight. The polls are within 1%.

0

u/StrawberryPlucky 4d ago

with no more available information than anyone else.

They literally do have access to much more information than anyone else though.

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u/MarcusQuintus 4d ago

They don't. Sorry to tell you.

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u/CouchHam Minnesota 4d ago

Who actually gets polled?

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u/marcel-proust1 3d ago

What about Kamala Harris taking over? Is that an option?