Don’t Bogart That Torch My Friend

As the RNC’s hero-worship week draws big ratings, the Dems remain divided over the most basic of matters: Who their presidential candidate should be. The Dems have cult heroes of their own and one of them is Adam Schiff. So it’s pretty big news when he calls for Biden to “Pass the torch.”

+ Biden “is relying on members of his family — a tight-knit clan that includes his son, Hunter, and the first lady, Jill Biden — along with a tiny group of loyalists to steer him through a self-created crisis and quell a rising rebellion against his candidacy from within his own party.” Biden Circle Shrinks as Democrats Fear Election Wipeout.

+ Nearly two-thirds of Democrats want Biden to withdraw, a new AP-NORC poll finds. (This is partly self-fulfilling. The polls show warning signs. Leading party members express concern. Those being polled react to that concern. And so on and so on.)

+ Polls are fickle and often wrong. Let’s look at what the market is telling us. “Global chip stocks fell sharply … posting declines amid reports of tighter export restrictions from the U.S. and a ramp-up of geopolitical tensions fueled by comments from former U.S. President Donald Trump.” That’s just one of the reasons the chips are down (Biden’s moves play a big role), but if investors are reacting to comments by Trump, you know they think there’s a very good chance he’ll be back in the Oval Office. This is not to suggest it’s over or that the election isn’t close. But it does suggest that you repeatedly waking up in the middle of the night with a sense of dread is not entirely unwarranted.

+ Meanwhile, back at the convention: Ex-Trump aide Peter Navarro to speak at RNC hours after leaving jail.