Warren Rising, Biden Sinking, Heart Attack Affects Sanders Campaign

by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org - Home - Stephen Lendman)

Countless skeletons in establishment favorite Biden's disturbing record may doom his prospects — Warren's rising, a trend to watch ahead.

She's no profile in courage people's candidate a same-day article explains. Almost any undemocractic Dem to Biden would be preferable — other than Adam Schiff.

He's a demagogic McCarthy-like figure, using a disinformation anti-Trump smear campaign, for the wrong reasons, to further his own political ambitions — why Ukrainegate should be called Schiffgate or Schiff/Bidengate.

Sanders' prospects may have weakened after suffering a heart attack, "a myocardial infarction," his doctors explained —hospitalized on Wednesday after experiencing "chest discomfort."

Stents were inserted in an artery discovered to be blocked, according to his campaign — with no further elaboration.

Notably nothing was said about his physical ability to maintain the rigors of campaigning ahead, let alone the stress if elected to the nation's highest office.

Currently trailing Warren and Biden in late September polls, he could fall further behind if perceived as physically damaged goods, Warren perhaps to benefit if his poll numbers sink.

According to heart surgeon Dr. Gilbert Tang, key for Sanders is "how serious was the heart attack? What muscle was damaged and how will that affect the heart's function?"

At age-78, healing takes longer than when much younger. On Friday, he tweeted: "After two and a half days in the hospital, I feel great, and after taking a short time off, I look forward to getting back to work."

His campaign announced that he'll participate in the October 15 Dem "debate," theater with little or no substance by any standard.

Note: After suffering a heart attack during his first term in office, Dwight Eisenhower was reelected for a second term. Con man Sanders is no Eisenhower.

Jack Kennedy was seriously ill numerous times in his life, three times given last rites. Some close to him said "from a medical standpoint, (he) was a mess."

Other US presidents were ill in office, some seriously. Lincoln was elected to the nation's highest office despite suffering from lifelong depression.

George Washington had health issues in office. John Adams was diagnosed with manic depression.

Jefferson, Madison, Chester Arthur, Woodrow Wilson, Franklin Roosevelt, and Ronald Reagan were ill in office.

Lincoln, FDR, Kennedy, William Henry Harrison, Zachary Taylor, James Garfield, William McKinley, and Warren Harding died in office.

Note: Little or nothing was reported publicly about illnesses suffered by most of the above presidents.

It's unknown how widespread news about Sanders' heart attack may affect perception of him as a viable presidential candidate.

Today's 24-hour news cycle and widespread social media make perception matter more than reality.

How Sanders is able handle his health issue remains to unfold. Key is whether his heart attack caused major or minor damage.

Meanwhile, Biden's campaign is slumping. On Friday, Politico said his "middling $15.2 million third-quarter fundraising haul is raising fresh questions about whether the former vice president's campaign can withstand a new onslaught of Republican ad attacks while simultaneously waging a battle for the Democratic nomination," adding:

His poll numbers "declined in recent months, and his fundraising has also lagged — he collected $7 million less between July and the end of September than in the second quarter."

He's fallen well behind Warren, Buttigieg and Sanders. The Trump campaign and GOP "announced they'll launch $10 million in negative TV ads — with $1 million targeted at the early nominating states alone — pushing the president's claim that Biden and his son Hunter engaged in corruption in Ukraine."

Hard, damning evidence proves it. Hard-hitting negative ads could doom Biden's chances, a positive development if happens.

An establishment favorite since announcing his candidacy, the NYT reported that he's "struggl(ing) to form a response" to Trump's accusations against him — legitimate ones the Times falsely called "unfounded," adding:

Biden's belated response to accusations by Trump and the GOP is "a case study in indecision."

"Facing one of the greatest challenges of his candidacy, Mr. Biden has plainly struggled to meet the moment…"

His gaffe-prone history further harms him. The Times lied claiming "(t)here is no evidence behind Mr. Trump's claim that Mr. Biden intervened inappropriately with Ukraine to help his son."  

He publicly admitted blackmailing former (US-installed) Ukrainian president Poroshenko to fire Kiev's chief prosecutor and drop the investigation into his son Hunter's dubious involvement with a Ukrainian gas company connected to a notorious fascist oligarch in the country.

The Times: Biden's advisors told donors "he may well lose both of the leadoff nominating contests in Iowa and New Hampshire."

His disturbing history as US senator and vice president makes him vulnerable to blistering attacks by Trump and the GOP — notably his disturbing involvement in Ukraine already being highlighted.

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My newest book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."

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