Sean Maloney
Joe Biden has only been in the White House for seven months, but is already enduring what could turn out to be the most difficult days of his first term as president of the United States. Biden has been placed on the defensive as images of American military forces concluding their exit from Afghanistan after 20 years get splashed across social media and television news networks. The president has faced criticism for abandoning military hardware, as well as Afghan citizens who assisted with the US war effort, and American citizens still trapped on the ground across the country as the Taliban seize the reins of power. However, the unwithering criticism has yet to impact Biden at the sportsbooks, where he is heavily favored to complete a full first term as president, and remains perched among the favorites to win re-election in 2024.
MyTopSportsbooks takes a look at how President Biden is faring on all the political odds as war in Afghanistan comes to a sudden, and far from ideal conclusion. Sports bettors getting in on politics betting action for the first time should refer to our betting guides for tips on how to hone their betting strategies.
| Will Joe Biden Complete First Term as US President? |  |
| Yes | -190 |
| No | +145 |
US Humiliated in Retreat from Afghanistan
In scenes reminiscent of the evacuation of the US Embassy during the fall of Saigon in 1975, the world has watched as both American forces and terrified Afghan citizens have scrambled to get out of Kabul ahead of the takeover of the Afghanistan capital by advancing Taliban forces. The images depicting Taliban forces toting captured American weaponry, and flying captured American aircraft, has shocked and outraged the people of the United States while damaging the nation’s reputation, both in the region and around the world.
Desperate scenes at Kabul airport as Afghans try to flee the Talibanhttps://t.co/hbwae2Js4Y pic.twitter.com/4cKw971ZWb
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) August 16, 2021
The unceremonious end to the conflict that began just weeks following the attacks September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon has been particularly difficult on the thousands of US troops who served on the ground during the 20-year conflict, as well as the families of the nearly 4000 Coalition troops who lost their lives during the conflict.
In total, for the years 2001-2021:
Coalition military casualties in Afghanistan: 3,500
Casualties in the Afghan security forces: 69,000
Afghan civilians killed: 51,000
(Estimates from Brown University, via the BBC)
— James W (@mrph2) August 16, 2021
Despite the horrific optics created by the bungled operation ongoing on the ground in Kabul, and the fierce criticism leveled at the president for his silence while the scene unfolded, Biden has remained resilient at the sportsbooks. After losing ground to Vice President Kamala Harris on the odds to be the Democratic Party nominee in the 2024 US presidential election, Biden has managed to hold steady amid his most recent crisis. The president remains deadlocked with Harris as a +130 co-favorite at Bovada to win the Democratic Party nomination in 2024. He also continues to lead the way as the favorite at BetOnline to win a second term in the Oval Office in the 2024 US presidential election.
Afghanistan One of Many Crises Plaguing Biden’s First Term
However, Biden still faces a number of massive challenges in his bid to ensure a lengthy stay in the White House. In addition to the US military’s distressing retreat out of Afghanistan, Biden also continues to wrestle with a moribund economy stricken by the threat of inflation, criticism over his handling of the energy file, an increase in domestic political divisions that have sparked continued street violence, and an ongoing crisis on the nation’s southern border with Mexico.
Biden DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on the border crisis in leaked audio:
“This is unsustainable. These numbers cannot continue.” pic.twitter.com/60sQDuApWl
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) August 13, 2021
If those issues were not enough to handle, speculation also continues about the health of the president. A series of the embarrassing episodes, including a trip down the steps of Air Force One and an indiscreet note, slipped to Biden during a televised meeting notifying him of food on his face, have not helped bolster the 79-year-old’s image. Suggestions persist that Biden is in steep cognitive decline, raising questions as to whether he has the physical and mental fitness to execute his duties as president.
President Enjoys Benefit of Few Legitimate Challengers
However, in addition to being a +600 longshot at BetOnline to be forced out of office by impeachment, Biden is strong bet to remain in office for the foreseeable future, with intriguing +320 odds of him not departing the White Office before 2026.
If Kamala Harris resigned right now she would become the Democrat frontrunner for 2024 overnight
— Jack Posobiec 🇺🇸 (@JackPosobiec) August 15, 2021
One of the biggest advantages that Biden enjoys is a lack of credible alternatives among his fellow Democrats. Apart from Harris, no clear challenger to Biden has emerged from the Democratic Party ranks. Failed 2020 presidential hopefuls Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar currently sport the best odds among the list of Democratic Party possibilities, pegged at a distant +1000 and +1600, respectively.
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