The Biden campaign is in a bit of a pickle.
Not only did the president expose his dementia for all to see on the national debate stage last month, but the interview he gave to George Stephanopoulos last week, which was intended to restore confidence in his mental acuity, was less than inspiring. This past Thursday, he managed to call Russian President Vladimir Putin the president of Ukraine, and, during a press conference, referred to his running mate as Vice President Trump. (READ MORE: Why Biden Is So Insistent on Running)
None of this is a good look.
Democrats have developed a bad case of cold feet. George Clooney made headlines this week when he said the president should step aside. Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) wrote to the Washington Post to express those same sentiments, and the list of his fellow Democrat congressmen who think the same thing (either in private or public) is growing longer by the hour. (READ MORE: Whither ‘America First’?)
At this point, it’s clear Joe Biden has no desire to step aside. During that press conference on Thursday, he finally admitted that, just maybe, some other Democrat might be able to beat Donald Trump. But he isn’t giving up. He still thinks he’s the best man to do so.
Caught in the crosshairs of the Democrat Party with an aging president for a boss, the Biden campaign is in a difficult position. They have to figure out how to restore confidence in a man who catatonically stares off into nowhere during major international conferences and has to be rescued by the “far-right” Italian prime minister.
And when young people are in a pickle, they turn to artificial intelligence. (READ MORE from Aubrey Gulick: Dear Elon Musk, Cybertrucks Are Ugly)
Usually, this column focuses on trying to fact-check AI for biases in controversial news stories. But I thought it might be valuable to try to anticipate the Biden campaign’s path forward. So I turned to ChatGPT and it did not disappoint:
Prompt: Let’s suppose you were the campaign aide of an incumbent president running for reelection. And, let’s suppose that the incumbent president in question was elderly and suffering from a severe case of dementia that caused him to bomb a debate, several national interviews, and an important international press conference on public television. How would you restore trust in that candidate and what strategies would you employ to get him to win the election?
ChatGPT 4-o: Restoring trust in an elderly incumbent president with severe dementia who has performed poorly in public appearances is a significant challenge. Here are some strategies that could be employed to rebuild trust and improve the chances of winning the election:
1. Transparency and Honesty
• Acknowledgment: Address the issue head-on with a statement acknowledging the president’s health challenges, showing empathy, and reassuring the public about the measures being taken to support him.
• Medical Updates: Regular updates from medical professionals about the president’s condition and the steps being taken to manage his health.2. Leveraging the Strengths of the Administration
• Highlight Accomplishments: Emphasize the president’s past successes and achievements, focusing on policy successes, economic growth, and other positive outcomes during his tenure.
• Delegation: Showcase a strong and competent team of advisors and cabinet members who are effectively managing various aspects of governance, reinforcing that the administration remains capable.3. Controlled and Positive Media Exposure
• Controlled Appearances: Limit public appearances to controlled environments where the president can perform well. Pre-recorded speeches and well-managed press conferences can help.
• Positive Media Campaign: Launch a media campaign focusing on the president’s accomplishments, personal stories of his leadership, and testimonials from trusted figures.4. Engaging Surrogates
• Prominent Surrogates: Utilize influential surrogates such as the vice president, cabinet members, and other respected leaders to speak on behalf of the president.
• Family Involvement: Involve family members in the campaign to humanize the president and garner emotional support from voters.5. Public Engagement and Listening Tours
• Town Halls: Organize virtual town halls and listening tours where voters can ask questions and express concerns, which surrogates and advisors can address.
• Community Outreach: Increase community engagement efforts to connect with voters on a personal level and understand their issues.6. Policy Focus and Future Vision
• Policy Proposals: Introduce new, forward-looking policy proposals that address current issues and resonate with the electorate.
• Vision for the Future: Communicate a clear and compelling vision for the future, focusing on stability, progress, and continuity.7. Crisis Management and Damage Control
• Rapid Response Team: Establish a team dedicated to responding quickly to any new incidents or gaffes, providing immediate clarification and context.
• Mitigating Fallout: Work to minimize the impact of past blunders by providing context, apologies if necessary, and redirecting the narrative to positive topics.8. Voter Mobilization and Grassroots Efforts
• Get Out the Vote (GOTV): Focus on a robust GOTV effort to ensure high turnout among the president’s base.
• Grassroots Campaigns: Empower grassroots organizations to engage and mobilize voters at the local level.9. Mental Health Awareness Campaign
• Destigmatize Dementia: Launch a campaign to raise awareness about dementia and other mental health issues, promoting empathy and understanding.
• Showcase Support Systems: Highlight the support systems in place for the president and how they are enabling him to continue serving effectively.10. Backup Plan
• Vice Presidential Readiness: Ensure the vice president is highly visible and prepared to take on a more prominent role if needed, providing a sense of stability and continuity.
This approach requires a delicate balance of honesty, empathy, and strategic communication to restore trust and maintain voter confidence.
Quite frankly, I found this whole response rather dystopian — mostly because, if the Biden campaign employed these tactics, it’d be doing a lot better than it currently is. But let me know your thoughts in the comments. Do you see elements of this strategy in the current Biden campaign? Would it even work on the American people at this point? Or have we reached a point where it is simply too late for Biden to walk back his gaffes and reassure his voters?
This is a weekly column at The American Spectator dedicated to exposing the left-wing bent of generative AI machines. If you enjoyed it and want to see what else ChatGPT comes up with, feel free to leave ideas for prompts in the comments section below!
