‘Assassination attempt on Donald Trump has changed US election dramatically’ - Sir John Redwood
Donald Trump was shot at during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania
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The assassination attempt on Donald Trump failed to the relief of all believers in democracy. It has changed the US election dramatically.
Democrats have had to suspend their sustained personal verbal attacks on him and reach out seeing an election under violent attack.
Meanwhile, the issue of Mr Biden's capability to serve another four years became so dominant that it took over the news of the NATO Washington Summit and 75th anniversary last week.
The UK Prime Minister, the President of France and the Chancellor of Germany found themselves answering questions about Mr Biden's capabilities rather than about NATO's decisions on Ukraine and the defence of the West.
They reported that their talks with him confirmed he was well up to doing the job even if he had made the odd slip of the tongue.
They were being dragged into the most contentious issue in the US election.
Donald Trump emerged with blood on his face after being shot at
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The decision of the Democrats to choose an 81-year-old to offer himself for another four years in the world's most powerful political job was always open to question. Polls showed that a majority of the public had concerns about his age and health.
The main challengers for the crown had every opportunity to make their case and persuade Democrats they needed a younger person. Those who tried failed.
The party by a big margin wanted Joe Biden who won the primaries quickly and easily. This endorsement added to the President's determination to run and see it through.
It was the unfortunate decision to hold a debate with Mr Trump before either of them had been formally confirmed as the official candidate that re-opened the issue.
The President and his supporters accepted he had a bad night with a stumbling performance.
The Trump camp just put out a video showing the low points of Biden's replies for more of the public to see.
Since then, the President tried to use the NATO Summit, an arranged interview and other events to show he is up to the task. Indeed, at the NATO summit, he spoke about domestic issues in a partisan way as well as speaking for NATO as Head of its dominant military force and funder.
His mistake in announcing the President of Ukraine as Putin and referring to Trump as his Vice President made things worse. It has meant two weeks of non-stop debate of Democrat against Democrat over his suitability as a candidate.
President Obama has given public support but is rumoured to be wanting change. A trickle of members of Congress have opposed the President in public in the hope they can get a bandwagon going.
The Democrats are caught in the headlights of polls showing Trump ahead, with other polls showing the front runners to replace Biden would not be more popular.
All this introspection helps the Republicans and starves the electorate of the big arguments that underlie differences between the two parties. Transition to net zero, for example, is on the ballot paper.
Mr Biden wants the US to help lead this movement, wanting more battery cars, more wind and solar power, and less fossil fuel use. Mr Trump wants the US to grow faster and prosper thanks to exploiting a plentiful supply of cheap oil and gas at home.
The war in Ukraine is being debated, with Mr Biden wanting the West to offer Ukraine enough support to stay in the fight but not enough to win. Mr Trump wants to help broker peace.
The US will play a lead role in settling these big issues of our age. The question of President Biden's capabilities has taken over as the main issue revealing big splits in the Democrat party over how to try to keep the Presidency.
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