"These men are completely known quantities engaged in the first presidential rematch since 1956. Even someone who has been in a coma since late 2019 would have pretty firm opinions about them. But the Democratic optimists would have you believe that an electorally significant chunk of voters will soon change their minds."
I think there is a low level panic bubbling beneath the surface of the Democratic electorate.
People tell themselves Biden has beaten Trump before, that Democrats have overperformed post-Dobbs, and that Trump's various legal problems will catch up with him before the election.
But people remember how Clinton was supposed to be a surefire winner in 2016, too, and how popular vote victories don't matter compared to the electoral college, where razor thin margins can turn the outcome.
I say this because there's an angry backlash to criticism of Biden, especially suggestions that his border and Gaza policy are turning off the very voters he needs to win in November.
The insistence that Biden is doing everything right and it's young, Arab, and other voters who have gone beyond the pale trying to tank his candidacy reflects a deep sense of insecurity about the actual odds against Trump.
The primary difference is Biden is already president and could take actions to shore up his support or at least make himself more palatable to voters, but he and his team seem hellbent on staying the course and treating critics with disdain.
Which is not something a president with a 38% approval rating should be doing while running for reelection but apparently, Biden is surrounded by sycophants who won't tell him that.
Anyway, if you're assuming Trump is so uniquely horrible he could never be president -- again -- and surely anyone in their right mind would vote for Biden, I think you're forgetting recent history.
@breadandcircuses@gwynnion In June 2019 Biden told his wealthy donors "no one’s standard of living will change, nothing will fundamentally change." and a lot of us felt strongly that it was a disqualifying statement that should have ended any chances he had in the primary nomination. Unfortunately not enough people agreed.