If Joe Biden’s second presidential bid were to go down in flames this November, the biggest beneficiary would be the state of California.
According to ABC News’ 538 rolling average of polls, President Biden’s approval rating has fallen to 36.8 percent—an all-time low.
Democrats far and wide are now sounding the alarms that an electoral blowout is on the horizon. Former Obama advisor David Axelrod recently told The Atlantic, “The magnitude of that defeat, I think, would be devastating to the party. Those margins at the top of the ticket would sweep Democrats out of office everywhere—House, Senate, governor, you name it. Considering the unthinkable latitude of the Supreme Court has just given Trump, we could end up with a situation where he has dominant majorities in Congress and, really, unfettered control of the country. That’s not far-fetched.”
CNN numbers-cruncher Harry Enten agrees. He tweeted, “Down ballot effects of a Biden loss are clear for Democrats. The House would likely be gone. GOP has opened up an edge on the generic ballot. If Biden loses, the chance of Democrats holding the Senate is close to zero because of the map and WV [West Virginia] being an easy GOP pickup.”
Let’s face it, Democrats are one Trump blowout away from losing the House faster than a Malibu hillside mansion during a mudslide.
Despite calls for him to step down, Joe Biden says he’s in it to win it and has vowed to campaign in all 48 states, if necessary.
By the way, if you’d like him to drop out, just scan the QR code at the end of this column and click on ‘Kamala.’
Biden is expected to spend at least $400 million trying to get re-elected, making his campaign the most expensive flop since Kevin Costner’s Horizon.
Yet, none of it seems to be working.
And even though we are a deep blue state that will award its electoral votes to whomever the Democratic candidate is, the impact of a Biden wipe-out would still make its way over the Sierra Nevadas.
At a meeting among House Democrats Riverside Democratic Congressman Mark Takano was quoted in Punchbowl News as saying that he saw a poll recently that had Biden losing in his district.
Biden won his district with 62 percent of the vote last time.
Well, thanks for leaving that in the punchbowl for us, Mr. Congressman.
In addition, an internal poll from Democrat Derek Tran’s campaign in the Garden Grove based 45th congressional district from 6 weeks ago showed former President Trump leading Biden by 6 points. This is a district that Biden won by 6 in 2020 – a 12 point swing in the Republican’s favor.
In the Irvine-based 47th congressional district currently being Represented by Democrat Katie Porter, an internal poll shows Republican Scott Baugh leading Democratic state senator Dave Min by 3 points, and former President Trump up by 1 point. This is a district that Biden won by 11 percent in 2020.
Min’s best shot at winning now would be to have Porter campaign against him.
Other likely outcomes would include: Republicans holding on to all of their contested congressional seats and probably picking up a couple of others, which would break the two thirds supermajority in at least one of the two chambers in the state legislature, reforming Proposition 47, and sending Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón packing.
Here in California we’d call that “draining the federally protected wetland.”
However, you have to give credit where credit is due, Joe Biden is doing all he can to round up votes in California. Rumor has it, he’s even got Hunter calling up all his old coke dealers.
And for the cherry on top of the sundae, Governor Gavin Newsom would not be able to parachute out of California to become the climate czar, administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency, or ambassador to the United Nations, if there is no Democratic president to appoint him. He will be stuck here in California dealing with a budget shortfall, insurance crisis, and an exploding homeless population.
This outcome could do more for California Republicans than anything they’re capable of doing for themselves. More importantly, it would bring back balance and sanity to state government, something that has been lacking for far too long.
If this happens, it would be, as Joe Biden would say, “A big f*&^+=g deal.”
John Phillips can be heard weekdays from noon to 3 p.m. on “The John Phillips Show” on KABC/AM 790.
