Biden Is Campaigning And Trump Is In Court. Who Will Your Choice Be In November?

By James B. Ewers Jr. Ed.D.

It’s beginning to look a lot like election season everywhere I go. Look at both campaigns as they are in the spotlight. Campaign promises are being made and catchy slogans are being used.

The attitudes and platitudes of both incumbent Joe Biden and challenger Donald Trump are on full display. It is shaping up to be an epic contest. It is the super bowl of politics. All the primaries are over and in the rearview mirror. Right now, we aren’t thinking about who won Iowa or New Hampshire. We know the candidates and we know their positions on issues, at least I think we do. Fact checking has occurred on both sides.

I would opine Democrats at the beginning underestimated Mr. Trump’s appeal. They didn’t think he could develop an effective strategy to become president again. Obviously, the former president has become a formidable opponent.

The wars in Ukraine and Israel have created challenges for President Biden’s camp. The problems at the border and the economy have also caused major headaches for him. Yet his message of hope and a better tomorrow are still resonating with the American people.

Will that be enough to give President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris a second term to lead the country? The Democratic Party in recent months has instituted an all-hands-on deck approach to the presidential campaign. Former Democratic presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama have added their much-needed support.

They along with President Biden had a fundraiser in New York recently that netted approximately 26 million dollars. This money will keep the advertisements going and the volunteers volunteering. These monies will simply keep the Biden-Harris ticket in the eyes of the public.

Meanwhile, the GOP has been singing the praises of former president Trump. They believe that he can make it to the White Hose. However, some in the Party see him facing a dark reality. The reality is there is a case in the New York court system called, The People of New York versus Donald Trump. That is a clear and present danger for him.

The jury and alternate jurors were selected, and the trial is now in its third week. The trial is moving along despite several motions by Trump’s legal team. Most of the motions have been denied. The judge in the case is Juan Merchan.

Some may suggest and I think correctly that Mr. Trump is campaigning even while in court. However, the court room is not the campaign trail.

Witnesses like Hope Hicks, former member of the Trump administration and David Pecker, former chairman of the National Enquirer’s parent company have already been called and testified for the prosecution. Surely Michael Cohen and Stormy Daniels will be called soon. Will their relationships with the former president be called into question? They will. Those who believe that Mr. Trump did nothing wrong are soon to become bleary-eyed and weak in the knees. The truth is on the way.

Mr. Trump will not get a respite from court as he will have other cases coming soon. Like other citizens who are charged, he is innocent until proven guilty.

Politico conducted a poll recently and found that half of the respondents felt Mr. Trump is guilty. In another poll, it showed a guilty verdict would hurt him among independent voters. It is my thinking that the cumulative effect of these trials will hurt him financially and politically.

The rancor and vitriol attached to this election is at an all-time high. Can the current president keep things together to win re-election? Will the former president win a presidential election while sitting in a court room? Supporters on both sides are gearing up to finish strong in November.

The trial is being talked about endlessly. We, the people want to stay informed. After all, inquiring minds want to know.