Behind the Scenes: How Trump Won and Biden's Campaign Collapsed

Biden's Handcuffed Campaign

• ⛓️ President Biden is described as having "handcuffed" Vice President Harris, particularly by insisting there be "no daylight" between them, which limited her ability to campaign independently.
• 📉 The campaign leadership, including manager Jen O'Malley Dillon, ran a race that was "on track to lose," failing to acknowledge that most of the public felt the country was on the wrong track.
• 🤐 Harris was perceived as more contained and packaged than her private demeanor, a result of Biden's concerns about his legacy and not being undercut.

Signs of Biden's Deterioration

• 🧠 The book details instances of Biden's cognitive decline, such as not recognizing Congressman Eric Swalwell and taking guests to a pool house long after it was relevant.
• 👟 Biden's staff implemented accommodations like new shoes and using smaller stairs for Air Force One, along with neon tape to guide him at fundraisers.
• ⚠️ These signs of deterioration were evident, but close advisors were hesitant to push him out due to his ultimate power and the risk of being dismissed.

The Impact of the June 27th Debate

• 💥 The June 27th debate was a "dispositive event" for key Democratic figures like Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama, as well as many donors, who realized Biden could not continue.
• 💸 Super PAC donors, like those in Future Forward, "choked off" their cash, signaling a significant loss of confidence.
• 🗣️ Despite this, Biden remained resolute, stating he was "not going anywhere," and Nancy Pelosi publicly acknowledged his decision-making power.

Obama's Doubts and Democratic Divisions

• 🤔 Barack Obama reportedly never believed Kamala Harris was the "right answer" and thought Joe Biden should have stepped aside for a "mini-primary" and an open convention.
• 🚫 Obama had previously advised Biden against running in 2016 and 2020, and by 2024, his influence was diminished as Biden believed Obama lacked good political judgment.
• 💔 Many Democrats felt "gaslit by their leadership" who assured them Biden was fine, only to be shocked by his performance and the subsequent realization of defeat.

Trump Campaign's Strategy and Discipline

• 🎯 The Trump campaign's primary strategy was to "keep Biden in as long as possible," confident in their victory if he remained the Democratic nominee.
• 🤐 Trump exhibited unusual discipline, stepping back to allow Democrats to "fight among themselves" and not "get in the way of an imploding adversary."
• 🚫 The campaign publicly disowned Project 2025, despite Trump's potential desire for its policies, recognizing it as a political liability.

Polling and Election Night Realities

• 📊 Internal polling for the Harris campaign, as late as early October, showed her winning a majority of electoral votes, but later assessments indicated Trump winning narrowly.
• 📉 Despite internal polling showing Trump winning, the Harris campaign and allies like David Plouffe publicly stated she was poised to win, leading to shock and heartbreak on election night.
• ⏳ The realization of defeat took time, with Harris not being officially told it was over until around 11 p.m. on election night, as campaigns waited for definitive vote counts.