A leaked memo unveils the miscalculation of Joe Biden’s 2024 campaign, revealing a push for an early debate with Donald Trump that spectacularly backfired. Advisers thought they’d showcase Biden’s leadership; instead, they ignited a Democratic meltdown.
The New York Post reported that the six-page document, dated April 15, 2024, urged Biden’s team to schedule a debate with Trump before summer distractions like the Olympics and family vacations.
It argued an early showdown would maximize viewership and highlight Biden’s strengths against Trump’s “chaos.” Oh, how wrong they were.
Written 73 days before the June 27, 2024, debate, the memo was obtained by Politico and detailed in a book by Josh Dawsey, Tyler Pager, and Isaac Arnsdorf. It boldly capitalized every reference to Biden, the 46th president, as if typography could mask frailty. Confidence, it seems, clouded judgment.
Biden’s senior advisers, including Ron Klain and Cedric Richmond, championed the early debate strategy. “Your senior advisors… continue to believe it is important to move forward with a plan that supports your participation in debates as early as possible,” the memo declared. That enthusiasm set the stage for disaster.
The memo argued spring debates would reach the widest audience, before conventions and summer leisure stole attention. It claimed fall debates were too late, with early voting and registration deadlines in states like Wisconsin already underway. Strategic, yes, but shortsighted.
Advisers proposed June 26 or 27, 2024, citing Biden’s travel schedule and the Dobbs decision anniversary. They believed an early face-off would contrast Biden’s leadership with Trump’s “weakness.” The irony stings, given what unfolded.
Days before the memo, Trump’s camp challenged Biden to debate “anytime, anywhere, anyplace,” pushing for an earlier schedule. Biden’s team, perhaps smelling victory, took the bait. Hubris, not strategy, drove the decision.
On May 15, 2024, Biden challenged Trump to two debates: June 27 and September 10. Trump’s campaign swiftly accepted, locking in the dates. The stage was set for a showdown that would unravel Biden’s campaign.
The memo suggested one debate before the August Democratic National Convention, with a second after Labor Day. It even allowed for reevaluation after the first debate—a clause that proved prophetic. Flexibility, it turns out, couldn’t save them.
“By holding the first debate in the spring, YOU will be able to reach the widest audience possible,” the memo crowed. It promised a grand stage for Biden to shine. Instead, the June 27 debate became a political funeral.
Biden’s performance was a trainwreck, stumbling and incoherent. The memo’s boast about showcasing “the strength of YOUR leadership” now reads like a cruel joke. Democrats, horrified, turned on their leader.
The fallout was swift and brutal. Biden’s poor showing sparked an internal revolt within the Democratic Party. Advisers’ dreams of a triumphant Biden crumbled under the weight of reality.
“The earlier YOU are able to debate the better,” the memo insisted, claiming it would let voters see Biden’s strength. That miscalculation cost Biden dearly. The debate exposed weaknesses no bold typeface could hide.
On July 21, 2024, Biden ended his bid for a second term. The September 10 debate never happened, as the campaign imploded. Advisers’ grand plan lay in tatters.
This leaked memo reveals a campaign blinded by overconfidence, betting on a weak hand. It’s a cautionary tale of strategic missteps and political naivety. Conservatives, take note: hubris is a lousy advisor.
