Source: Semafor
by David Weigel
“The shooting in Butler, which left one man dead and two more injured, made a hard initial impact on the presidential race. It briefly paralyzed Democrats, who were lobbying Joe Biden to end his campaign. It sparked an important conversation between Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and Trump, which led to Kennedy’s exit from the race. And it moved a few anti-Democratic Party figures to squarely support Trump …. What it didn’t do was end the presidential campaign. Many panicky Democrats and confident Republicans thought that could happen, after seeing that Trump had been grazed by a bullet, gotten up, and pumped his fist. … Immediately after the shooting, a pause in partisan TV coverage and advertising seemed to augur a new and more respectful tone from the mainstream media and Democratic campaigns. It didn’t last, to the shock of pro-Trump Republicans.” (09/03/24)