My hot take – what if Joe Biden’s apparent stumbles and inevitable exit were not the catastrophes they seemed at the time, but a carefully laid plan to elevate Kamala Harris and leave the Republicans reeling?

Let’s dissect what I’d like to call the “rope-a-dope strategy.”

This term was made famous by none other than Muhammad Ali during his epic clash with George Foreman in ’74. Ali would lean back on the ropes, soaking up the blows, letting Foreman exhaust himself before unleashing his own furious counterattack.

Take another look at the picture at the top of this post. Ali is leaning against the ropes. He is supported. He can move his head away from Foreman’s blows. Now look at George Foreman. He is so focused on the attack that he is completely off balance. His head is so far forward that he can’t pull it back quickly. This isn’t Ali being pummeled. It’s a trap. A spectacular, photogenic trap.

A boxing match lasts 12 rounds. Ali won by knockout in the eighth.

Rope-a-dope.

Rewind to that first presidential debate. A catastrophic display for Biden, whose feeble delivery sent shockwaves through the political class. The Republicans branded him senile and weak. His opponents circled, ready to feed upon his carcass, attack strategy honed and ready. But what if Biden was biding his time, using that obvious image of vulnerability to lull the Republicans into complacency?

A trap. A spectacular, photogenic trap.

Republicans fixated on this narrative of old and unfit. How could they not? But Biden, with a twist of grand theater, announced he’s stepping down for Kamala Harris, leaving the GOP’s months of preparation in tatters.

By maintaining Biden on the field as a sacrificial offering, the Democrats avoided internecine warfare within their ranks, shielding Harris from the distraction of primary challengers. It all makes sense. Biden’s campaign was a Trojan Horse, slipping unnoticed to the heart of campaign season to deliver Harris, the knockout punch.

Meanwhile, Harris had already been shaping a position distinct from Biden. In March, she called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, something that Biden couldn’t do as he worked to secure aid for Ukraine. My guess is that this was the beginning of the plan.

Fast forward to today. The GOP is in disarray, now it’s their candidate who is the shambling relic, while Harris stands young and dynamic. Their ageist campaign has backfired. Harris has not only consolidated Democratic support but also sparked a fundraising frenzy — $100 million in 24 hours $250 million in 48 hours — that contrasts sharply with the fractured Republican efforts to find a new narrative.

Rope-a-dope.

How could Biden have pulled this off? The answer is that he’s been doing this the entire term. It’s Ali’s playbook for anyone who cares to look. Despite incessant Republican pummeling, he succeeded in passing an infrastructure bill laden with Green New Deal elements. While pundits bemoaned his perceived weakness, he was quietly stacking achievements.

He fortified Western alliances, stood firm against Russian aggression, and supported Ukraine, reversing the global isolationism of the Trump years. Biden the senile figurehead, as per his critics — danced like a butterfly on the international stage.

The domestic front was no different. Consider how Biden slashed summer gas prices through strategic petroleum reserves use while pouring billions into the Treasury. This subtle display of political prowess slipped under most radars. Yeah, he did that.

Biden’s orchestration of these feats — and many others — amid unrelenting opposition showcases an adeptness that we haven’t seen since Lyndon Johnson. Well, most of us aren’t old enough to remember Johnson. Biden is. He was practicing law at the time. Harris’s ascension isn’t a fluke; it’s a masterfully executed strategy, where the real move was hidden in plain sight.

The Democrats — led by an alleged doddering figure — have masterminded a scenario so surprising, it’s almost poetic. Harris stands alone in the ring, while the Republicans find themselves gasping for breath. Biden’s frailty was the ultimate misdirect, leaving the GOP scrambling. Harris wins the round, and the GOP is left to pick up the pieces.

Rope-a-dope.