Dem
51
GOP
49
According to many reports, Joe Biden's closest adviser is Jill Biden. If she tells him to leave the race, he will. If she tells him to stay the course, he will. The last time a first lady had so much influence over the country was when Edith Wilson was acting president. Jill might not be the best person to listen to, since she cares more about him than about the country, but at least she is a better source of advice than Hunter Biden, whom Joe is also listening to.
At a recent fundraiser, Jill said: "Joe isn't just the right person for the job, he's the only person for the job." She has been at his side most of the time since the debate, although she did do a fundraiser in Greenwich Village on Saturday.
She is also pepper-upper-in-chief telling him: "Look, Joe, we are not going to let 90 minutes define the 4 years that you've been president."
Republicans have noticed her role and are starting to go after her. When Jill took her husband's hand when leaving the debate stage, Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) posted a video on eX-Twitter asking "Who is the Commander-in-chief?" Some Democrat ought to have responded with: "Which candidate's wife has so little faith in her husband that she didn't even bother to show up in Atlanta for the debate?"
Jill was recently the victim of some bad timing. She just appeared on the cover of Vogue in a $5,000 Ralph Lauren dress. That cover and the related article was planned months ago. The release now was just a bit of bad luck. If the debate had not been a fiasco, she would have been seen as an emissary to women.
She is in a tough spot and a lot is riding on her decision. (V)