Providing his momentum prevails, Joe Biden has offered a glimpse of his inauguration speech — “no blue states and red states”, just American states under a non-partisan presidency.
It is a grand uplifting ideal. But it falls upon a sea of rancour, disputed claims and Donald Trump’s renewed leadership of the voiceless red legions against the elites.
Any Biden victory will be highly qualified. The Democrats are unlikely to win the Senate, the predicted blue surge never materialised, the capacity of Biden as a healing agent remains in serious question and Trump is creating a default story that this election was “stolen”, thereby seeking to de-legitimise any Biden victory.
Biden’s tone the day after the vote was pitch-perfect. This was a different Biden: he was moving into the aura of the presidency, invoking classic American ideals: it is time “to unite, to heal, to come together as a nation”.
Biden comes to bury Trump’s carnage with hope. He pledges to unite where Trump divided.
This won’t be easy, it may be impossible, but having a new president with this mission is a welcome turning point.
Biden reminded that the presidency is “not a partisan institution” but the one office “that represents everyone and it demands a duty of care for all”.
This is essential if the American project is to be saved. Anxious to rebut any notion he is an optimistic fool, Biden said: “I know this won’t be easy. I’m not naive. I know how deep and hard opposing views are in our country. I also know this. To make progress, we have to stop treating our opponents as enemies. We are not enemies.”
If Biden wins, his mission will confront two daunting opponents: resentful Trump legions who won’t accept the result and progressive Democrats demanding implementation of their divisive agenda, sure to ruin any healing process.
The US may be fortunate Democrats have been denied the Senate, but this comes with the negative that more necessary fiscal support for the American people to cushion the coronavirus impact may not be forthcoming.
The popular vote shows a decisive three million winning margin for Biden over Trump. Biden has scored more votes than any presidential candidate in US history.
Biden said he campaigned as a Democrat but “will govern as an American president”.
Applaud his words but judge his actions. If Biden is seen as a weak, uninspiring, conventional political hypocrite, his side will grow restless and Trump will probably lead another populist rebellion.
Biden has the right sentiments but the challenge he defines requires an exceptional leader.
Have no doubt: making a successful transition from Trump is a high-risk project for Biden and America.
It will be littered with traps at every point, the first being the vote count.
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