Between the devil and the deep blue zzzzzeee

Fears over Trump & Biden head-to-head

- CHRISTOPHER BUCKTIN

JOE Biden and Donald Trump have won their parties' presidential nominations to set up an election rematch that millions of American voters simply do not want.

Trump, 77, has been accused of various wrongdoing. He is also being painted as a danger to America.

Even some in his own party think he is not fit to be in the White House.

Biden, 81, has many detractors too. Voters say he is too old, too prone to errors and has no charisma. Bookies have former Apprentice star Trump as a 10/11 favourite to win, with his rival a 2/1 outsider.

Biden faced only token opposition in the Democratic primary, typical for a sitting president. Trump had been the Republican front-runner for months, seeing off the likes of Nikki Haley.

The outcome of Tuesday's contests across Georgia, Mississippi, and Washington was never in doubt. Although the presidential primary calendar was not halfway through, the magnitude of the wins gave each candidate the delegate majority needed to claim their party's nomination for the November 5 election.

But the nation is uneasy with the choice that lies ahead. Pollsters and strategists say rarely have so many Americans been so unhappy with the country's direction for this long. And rarely have so many wanted different candidates.

Voters who dislike both Biden and Trump now have their own nickname - "double haters".

UNPOPULAR

It will be a contest between two flawed and unpopular presidents.

For months, Americans have been in denial, hoping other candidates would emerge while entertaining fantasies about possible last-minute entrants such as Michelle Obama.

They have even hoped for a viable third-party candidate and speedy legal prosecutions that would force Biden and businessman Trump off the ballot.