Or something like that.

...wanting to appear even-handed.

He should know that the convicted felon who tried to subvert his very court and threatened his daughter, and the people wanting him to evade justice, aren't the ones who deserve the judge's favor.

He looks scared here.

A sentence before the election could have cost the POS votes and really made a difference on November 5 if it was an appropriate sentence. Now if polls only show Harris a point ahead in a battleground state(s) or even, things might go really awry on November 5. Merchan really blew it.

In normal times a conviction would be enough to make what you said happen but I’m not sure he would get jail time. I’m in favor of a delay if he was only going to get probation.

because he has no prior convictions and he was convicted of nonviolent white-collar crimes. His penalty will almost certainly be financial. But if he were to sentenced before the election, regardless of what the penalty is, he would use that sentence as further evidence that he is being persecuted by the Deep State and Biden's DoJ (even though it's a state trial and DoJ isn't involved at all, but his base doesn't understand that). It will be a rallying cry for the cult. Whatever votes he will lose on account of this case, he's already lost them because he's a 34x convicted felon - the sentence isn't the important thing; the conviction is.

An ankle bracelet, that could make a difference. I know you might say that would be unlikely, and you might be right, but 34 felonies is 34 felonies. As for the rallying cry among his followers, well there too far gone to matter. Being under house arrest or a short stay at Rikers could cost the POS votes among Independents/Undecided folks.

And it is very doubtful that he would receive a prison sentence in any event, for a first conviction for a nonviolent financial crime. Think about it: If he were sentenced before the election he would probably be fined, and he'd appeal the fine and nothing would change. If in the very unlikely event he were given a prison sentence, he'd appeal that and he'd be free in the meantime, and nothing would change, except that he'd be the MAGA martyr. But either way he's a convicted felon, and will be one up to and after the election. If the sentencing hearing were held before the election as previously scheduled and the judge dismissed the charges altogether as Trump has argued, that would be a thumb on the other side of the scale. Do we want that? Whatever the sentence turns out to be, it would be more ammunition for Trump's claim of persecution and a rallying point for his cult. Seems to me it's a whole lot better to leave the 34 felony convictions and the possibility of a stiff financial penalty hanging over his head until after the election.

But upon reflection I’m okay with this. TSF daily damages his chances by his incoherent rambling. We want him to continue to rant and alienate more people. If he’s in a cell and muffled, the entire GQP will be screaming “politically motivated” and it may resonate with many voters. His whole “I’m the victim here.” shtick may take on some credibility.

...for the case.

Making decisions and actions in any case based on knowing they will have an effect on an election is election interference.

Alvin Bragg did not oppose the postponement which may be a major factor in Judge Merchant's decision

Link to tweet

...but Bragg was just being cautions about what the judge might decide, not agreeing that he'd like to wait until after the election, but making clear to the judge that he wasn't forcing what might be an unfavorable sentence or ruling from the bench.

I don't agree with others that this might mean jail time. If he's timid because of the election here, he'd be timid with an elected Trump. It smells of opening his own responsibility up to a popular vote.

Your motive for doing something is your reason for doing it. *
*https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/motive