Concerns regarding President Joe Biden’s age and cognitive health have escalated following his recent debate with Donald Trump on June 27. During this debate, the 81-year-old president appeared to lose his train of thought multiple times, which has heightened worries about his ability to continue his campaign effectively.
In the aftermath, betting odds for Biden’s success in the 2024 presidential election plummeted by nearly 30 percent on one popular betting site. Furthermore, Texas Representative Lloyd Doggett became the first sitting member of Congress to publicly call for Biden to withdraw from the race.
During a fundraiser on Tuesday, Biden attributed his subpar debate performance to jet lag, acknowledging he “wasn’t very smart” for engaging in extensive travel before the debate. He admitted, “I didn’t listen to my staff… and then I nearly fell asleep on stage.”
Kamala Harris Surpasses Joe Biden as Top Democratic Candidate
U.K. betting firm William Hill has adjusted their odds, now placing Kamala Harris at 11/2 (15.4 percent) as the most likely Democratic nominee, compared to 6/1 (14.3 percent) for Biden. William Hill spokesperson Lee Phelps shared with Newsweek, “A significant shift has occurred in the U.S. Presidential election market this morning, positioning Kamala Harris ahead of Joe Biden as the leading Democratic candidate.”
Phelps further noted, “While Donald Trump remains the favorite at 4/7 (63.6 percent), Harris’ odds have improved from 9/1 to 11/2, whereas Biden’s odds have fallen to 6/1. Biden’s lackluster performance in last week’s debate has cast more doubt on his ability to retain the presidency, with Vice President Harris now leading in approval ratings and surpassing Biden in the Democratic race.”
Read Also: Klay Thompson Leaves Warriors: Joining the Mavericks Next Season
Newsweek reached out to President Biden, Vice President Harris, and the 2024 Biden presidential campaign for comments, but has yet to receive a response.
Other Betting Platforms
Kamala Harris’ odds of winning the 2024 presidential election saw significant improvement with Bet 365 and Sky Bet on Wednesday morning compared to the previous day. Bet 365 shortened her odds from 16/1 (5.9 percent) to 7/1 (12.5 percent), while Sky Bet adjusted her odds from 20/1 (4.8 percent) to 8/1 (11.1 percent).
Veteran journalist Carl Bernstein, during a CNN interview on Monday, mentioned that individuals close to Biden have observed “marked incidents of cognitive decline and physical infirmity” over the past six months. He elaborated, “These are people very close to President Biden who love and support him. Among them are significant donors who insist that what we saw the other night is not an isolated incident. There have been 15 to 20 instances over the past year and a half where the president has appeared similarly compromised.”