There may be no question more futile in American politics than asking whether a state of the union speech might lift a president’s fortunes.

The historical record offers a resounding answer: No. At best, the president gets a polling bump that is tiny and temporary. If it happens, it disappears within weeks. Sometimes, there’s no bump at all.

This annual speech is more useful as a peek into a president’s mind. 

In this case the president is months away from an election, and he’s in deep trouble. Joe Biden has miserable approval ratings and trails Donald Trump in most polls.

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