US election: democratic system on the ballot

The political climate of the United States is getting tenser as Election Day approaches. We have previously seen a lot of important issues on the ballot, including healthcare, economy, immigration, and foreign policy. This time the US ‘democratic system’ is on the ballot as well.

The political stand-off between the two political parties’ leaders and contenders for the 46^th US president took place at the first presidential debate in Cleveland, Ohio. Historically we have seen presidential debates between two competitive candidates including Richard Nixon and John Kennedy; Bill Clinton and George HW Bush; Al Gore and George W Bush; John Kerry and George W Bush; and Barack Obama and Mitt Romney.

Trump vs Biden was the worst presidential debate in history. The selection of topics was excellent and timely that included Trump and Biden records, the Supreme Court nomination, Covid-19, economy, race and violence in cities, and the integrity of the election. The debate started with a pleasant exchange. President Trump’s strategy was clear that he would continue with what he did in the last presidential election — play the ‘outsider card’ and be aggressive with a notch or two up. He wanted to get under Biden’s skin from the beginning. It seemed like the President had no message or plan to offer and was trying to distract the former vice-president by constantly cutting in. The credit goes to Biden for not giving in and keeping his focus on the debate. He knew what the President was trying to achieve. That is why at times when the debate became heated, Biden diverted the attention towards the TV audience by telling them that this issue and the election is about them.

Ever since the President returned from the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, he is downplaying the virus. He returned from the hospital after three nights and has been showing no signs of illness. As a political stunt, he wanted to wear a Superman T-shirt to the hospital. He is successfully showing his voters by his actions that Covid-19 is not a big deal. But the question is: how many Americans have the luxury of medical insurance and care that the President has?

It has become clear that this election has more issues on the ballot, including Covid-19 and masks, SC nominations, race, and the biggest of all the ‘democratic system’. President Trump has again ruled out a peaceful transfer of power if he loses. He had the same statement in the 2016 elections. Former president Obama said in a White House press conference after the 2016 election night that “the peaceful transition of power is one of the hallmarks of our democracy”. The Republican Party leader in Senate, Senator Mitch McConnell, disagrees with Trump and has stated in his tweet, “The winner of the November 3 election will be inaugurated on January 20^th.”

President Trump’s campaign position will affect the Republicans Senate elections in 2020 as well. Thirty-three Senate seats will be up for election on November. Most prominent is the re-election of Senator Lindsay Graham, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. He is facing unexpected competition from Democratic candidate Jamie Harrison in the red state, South Carolina. As per polls, both leaders are tied. The campaign funding position of Senator Graham is now in jeopardy. The Senate Committee on Judiciary is about to hold a confirmation hearing for the SC nomination. For Senator Graham, the confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett for the SC is a ‘make or break situation’ for his re-election.

In the coming days before the election, President Trump will further downplay Covid-19 and focus on his contribution to strengthening the economy. That may improve his polling numbers, especially in the red states. However, the Biden camp will keep its attack on President Trump’s Covid-19 response.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 15^th, 2020.

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