The consequences of Saturday’s assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump on the presidential election are uncertain. However, one outcome seems clear.

Trump and the MAGA Republicans will shift blame for the shooting to Joe Biden and the Democrats for inciting Americans to violence by calling Trump a dictator and a danger to democracy. Whether this tactic will backfire remains to be seen.

This brings to mind the fable of the "The Boy Who Cried Wolf." Once too often the boy sounded the alarm. The next time, help did not come. The wolf did.

Reverse this fable from the wolf’s perspective. Suppose Trump is the boy crying “Biden did it, Biden did it.”

And suppose Joe Biden is the wolf. Can the wolf turn this around? And will the boy cry "Biden did it" once too often?

Biden must overcome two Herculean tasks if he is to win in November. The first is to convince Democrats and Americans he can lead the nation for four more years. The second may be even more formidable. Can Biden neutralize accusations that this rhetoric led to the tragedy at Butler, Pa?

To achieve the first, Biden will lean heavily on his performances at last Thursday’s press conference and the next day in Detroit.

To any objective observer not having tasted of America’s political Kool-Aid, Biden’s press conference........

© The Hill