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A month ago, in the small town of Butler, Pa., a would-be killer bullet came less than an inch from changing not only the 2024 presidential election, but American history as well.
The horrific shooting that left husband and father Corey Comperatore dead, and two others wounded remains a vivid and piercing image in the minds of many voters.
It seems that decades of politics have happened in the last 30 days, we have appeared in a completely different situation, and if the prelude is a precursor, the next 84 days do not want another surprise.
As historians look back on this improbable election cycle, they must, along with their stiff drinks, consider whether it was actually an assassination attempt, not a debate disaster that ultimately forced Biden out.
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When Trump took the stage that day, Joe Biden was still insisting that he was the Democratic candidate, but once, by the grace of God, the bullet just grazed the former president’s ear, everything would change.
Former Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is moved from the stage at a campaign rally, Saturday, July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pa. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
At a restaurant in Toledo, I watched with the crowd as Trump stood, blood on his face, fist in the air, and chanted “Fight, fight, fight.” Since then, I’ve seen the image on t-shirts all over the country. At that time, one of the people watching said, “It’s over.”
But not so fast.
As historians look back on this improbable election cycle, they must, along with their stiff drinks, consider whether it was actually an assassination attempt, not a debate disaster that ultimately forced Biden out.
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Either way, just 8 days after Trump was shot, and after a successful Republican National Convention, Democrats pulled the biggest bait and switch in American political history, and suddenly, Trump was running against Vice President Kamala Harris.
For the liberal media it is Christmas morning, and their stockings are full of Harris puff pieces and many reasons to forget all about shooting at Butler.
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When the assassination attempt disappeared into the rearview mirror of the media, the entire tone of the Democrats changed from accusations that Trump is Hitler, who may have contributed to the assassination attempt, to the current “campaign of happiness”.
But this past weekend, when I spoke to voters about the near miss, there was still a sense of wonder about it, a sense of worry in the eyes as he said, as he did, “we are close to a total crisis.”
While Dodging bullets is always a good thing, eventually you have to find and eliminate the source of the shooting, and I don’t mean Thomas Matthew Crooks, which we still know almost nothing, I mean the political environment of hatred and fear. .
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In a country where many not only disagree, but dislike each other, the specter of political violence haunts the election, especially as we head into next week’s Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
The next three months will feature a steady, staccato stream of daily events that move the polling needle. Gaffes, scandals, new policies, debates, the usual circus in the city, and yet, attempts to kill still hang above all.
July 13, 2024 is a “where are you” moment, like the assassination of JFK or the moon landing, and when things like Tim Walz’s stolen courage or JD Vance’s cat lady comment can quickly fade from the public mind. Trump won’t.
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The nation has changed a month ago, the innocence is gone, and everyone can feel it. The stakes of this election are not only about which side will win and get policies, but also whether we can live together in peace.
But one thing is certain, for millions of Americans walking to the ballot box in November, one image from this campaign season will outshine all others, and when they remember it will remind Trump’s appeal for war, war, war.
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