‘Biden largely responsible for defeat’
A neck-and-neck race was predicted, but it did not materialise: Donald Trump recorded a clear victory in the US presidential election. Among Democrats, President Biden bears much of the responsibility for the defeat.
That is the opinion of Bart Kerremans, professor of American politics at The University of Leuven, Belgium. Under Joe Biden's presidency, inflation skyrocketed in the US and the issue of the economy proved to be a big driver among voters to vote for Trump.
According to Kerremans, Kamala Harris made a tactical choice by never really distancing herself from Biden who bears a great responsibility in the defeat: not only by clinging to a second term too long, but also by his dramatic performance in the debate with Trump.
‘It was very clear at that point that he was way too old. He clung to his office, and that put the Democrats in a very nasty scenario,’ Kerremans told Belgian media.
The Democrats took a big risk by choosing a new candidate last minute: ‘If you do so, you create a situation full of political risks. For me, by the way, Harris was not the strongest person who could take office in his place.’
(Fausto/Source: De Morgen/Illustration picture: DPA picture alliance / Anadolu | Celal Gunes)