It would be a genius move

@Ansel I don't think it would be a genius move. Kind of hard to campaign on, "My opponent is a convicted criminal, whom I pardoned."

@Ansel if Biden was a better candidate he could pardon him "due to his old age and frail health" or something

@PlasmaBallin To clarify, I think it could be a genius move under the right circumstances & narrative. It only needs to be the case that the net balance of votes moves toward Biden after the pardon. It could be spun / dog-whistled in a way to make Trump appear to be a beneficiary of Biden’s magnanimity and therefore weak, which could have an effect on Trump’s base. It also removes the “need” to elect him to “save” him from the corrupt justice system.

@Ansel Maybe, it just seems hard to use the rule of law as a talking point if he does it.

@Ansel technically the recipient has to accept the pardon and admit guilt, so Biden could offer a very specific pardon that Trump is too proud to accept, or which makes him look bad if he accepts.

Not convinced either way.

@MartinRandall Maybe Biden offers to pardon him during one of the debates

@EduardoFilippi Exactly

Is this likely to happen?

@StrayClimb likely? no idea, Nixon was pardoned

@EduardoFilippi Nixon was pardoned by his own vice president who was a member of his party once Ford became President. Some people think this is why Ford did not win his next election.