The incident became a legend.

The US presidential election continues to heat up following a series of new developments surrounding the failed assassination attempt on Republican candidate Donald Trump.

President Joe Biden and his predecessor Donald Trump. (Source: Reuters)

In recent days, the focus of global media attention has revolved around the failed assassination attempt on Donald Trump, the Republican candidate in the 60th presidential election. The incident occurred as the former US President was preparing to give a campaign speech in Butler, Pennsylvania. Fortunately, he only suffered minor injuries to his ear. US Secret Service agents shot and killed the perpetrator, Thomas Matthew Crooks, at the scene. The attack resulted in one death and four injuries.

Authorities are still investigating the perpetrator's motive. However, the incident will undoubtedly have a significant impact on the fierce competition between Joe Biden and Donald Trump in the upcoming November election. So what are those impacts?

Turning crisis into opportunity

First and foremost, Donald Trump skillfully used the failed assassination attempt to build and consolidate his position within the Republican Party and pave the way for his return to the White House. The image of this politician , despite a bleeding ear wound and the risk of further attack, raising his fist in the air and shouting "Fight! Fight!" will become an unforgettable image for him personally and for the American people, regardless of the election results.

The Conversation (USA) commented: "The image of Trump (when injured) has a more powerful impact than a multi-million dollar campaign." Similarly, speaking at the Republican National Convention (RNC) on July 16 in Milwaukee, former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson emphasized: "The Republican Party has the greatest opportunity I've ever seen to win overwhelmingly (in the upcoming election)."

Trump didn't miss this opportunity. Instead of postponing his appearance at the RNC as speculated, he showed up on the very first day. When the former US President, with one ear bandaged, appeared at the RNC, Republican voters chanted "Fight!". This support was evident when 2,387 delegates at the RNC unanimously nominated Trump as the official candidate, nearly double the number he achieved after the March primaries. They also appreciated the former President's choice of Ohio Senator JD Vance as his running mate, believing that the former businessman's youth and talent would significantly contribute to Trump's success.

Contrast

Conversely, the attack also presented the Democratic Party with a unique situation. Immediately after the attack, incumbent President Joe Biden called to inquire about his predecessor's well-being. At the same time, in a press conference and subsequent interview with NBC , Biden criticized the attack, asserting that "there is no place for violence in American politics," although he also mentioned the attack on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, when Trump was still in office.

Joe Biden emphasized, "Even though we have disagreements… we are not enemies. We are neighbors." Biden's campaign team temporarily halted the airing of ads and slogans criticizing Trump immediately after the attack. However, if this restraint continues, it could lead many to believe that the incumbent president is somewhat "outmatched" in terms of media coverage compared to his predecessor.

More importantly, in the current context, the attack creates a stark contrast between two of America's leading politicians. On one side is Donald Trump, who successfully escaped assassination attempts and rose to prominence with strong support within the Republican Party. On the other side is Joe Biden, facing considerable internal skepticism within his party regarding his health and, consequently, his chances of winning, especially after his press conference at the NATO summit and televised debate last month.

Adding more excitement

A survey conducted from July 12-14 by Morning Consult (USA) with 11,328 voters indicated that 84% of Democratic voters supported Biden, while 89% of Republican voters supported Trump. Currently, 18 Democratic representatives and one senator have called on the President to relinquish his candidacy to another politician. However, Joe Biden has dismissed reports regarding his health, while affirming his readiness for the difficult journey ahead.

In reality, Trump is currently leading among American voters, especially after the events of July 13th. A Morning Consult poll shows that 44% support him, while 42% trust Joe Biden. However, this gap is not large and could easily reverse in the remaining four months.

However, for that scenario to become a reality, Joe Biden and the Democratic Party will need to act quickly and decisively to regain the trust of American voters. On the other side, Trump and the Republican Party continue to capitalize on the July 13th incident to widen the gap.

In this context, the race for the White House will be fierce, exciting, and potentially subject to change right up until Election Day on November 5th.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/bau-cu-tong-thong-my-su-co-thanh-su-tich-279260.html