How is Joe faring?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

I just want to beat Trump and put forward our strongest candidate. All other considerations are subsidiary. The debates will show if he still has his fastball. I hope so.

[MineralMan]

1. Well, so far he's leading the polling by double digits nationally.

In a field of 24, that's significant. So, I'd say he's doing OK at the moment.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

2. Thankfully, spellcheck did not try to edit that headline. NT

[DemocratSinceBirth]

3. Fearing?

He seems fearing to Trump.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

5. Noooooo. NT

[Funtatlaguy]

11. Farting?

[mahatmakanejeeves]

14. Yep. That's how I read it the first time. Disclaimer: I have nothing against Joe Biden.

It's spellcheck that I watch closely.

[Funtatlaguy]

15. Everybody farts. My dog is awesome at it. 😷

[True Dough]

4. I just watched a report on CNN

that showed likely Iowa caucus-goers were polled and indicated only a modest level of "extreme enthusiasm" for Biden (29 per cent, I believe) and younger voters had Biden in 4th place. It was voters 65 and older who had him as the overwhelming favorite.

Anyway, all this to say that, at least in Iowa, Biden is still the front-runner overall but he's not going to be able to coast at all. Mistakes or even being strongly outshone during the debates could make a serious dent in his early reign at the top.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

6. Mayor Pete is okay. I saw him on Desus and Mero.

I just want to beat Orange Man.

[uawchild]

7. We will beat Trump

We have a very deep bench.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

9. That's all that matters to me.

[cwydro]

8. What is a "modest level" of extreme enthusiasm?

That hits me funny for some reason.

[True Dough]

12. Apparently it's a question they asked caucus-goers

Would you describe yourself as "extremely enthusiastic" about the candidate you support? And then probably a series of other options indicating lesser levels of enthusiasm.

It was 29% of Biden supporters who opted to describe their support for him as extremely enthusiastic. Among the other candidates it was 39%.

[cwydro]

18. I gotcha.

That makes sense.

[left-of-center2012]

16. "at least in Iowa, Biden is still the front-runner"

Biden is leading polls in every state.

[emmaverybo]

21. Although I agree that younger voters are important because yes, their numbers can help put a Dem

over, but more because we want them getting into the process as citizens, baby boomers represent
significant parts of the map, and strong numbers.
Also agree Biden can not coast to victory.
Enthusiasm builds over time and will attach to any candidate who wins the primaries as it will be driven by urgency. Most who won the midterms were not charismatic or progressive. Nonetheless, enthusiasm, excitement, urgency motivated a blue tide,
I remember talking to my students at a liberal arts college in a liberal urban environment about Obama. For some time they did not identify with him or care about the historic significance of his
running and then his nomination, despite that he represented a multi-cultural and bi-racial life experience/background as they did, and was young.
In time, with exposure, they began to notice.
Admittedly, Obama’s campaign was a strategic phenomenon. I do not expect it to be matched by any of the current candidates. He made a strong appeal through surrogates to the youth vote, as just one of the many constituencies and communities he focused on.
Still, it’s not easy to read what personalities and approaches, people, young and old, will find inspiring. Sometimes it’s rock and roll and sometimes it’s standards.

[comradebillyboy]

10. He's playing it safe right now. We'll have to wait and see if that's

a viable longer term strategy.

[emmaverybo]

22. We will have to wait and see if that is the strategy he maintains. He has not always played for

safety. I expect him to fight hard once he fully enters the arena.

[aikoaiko]

13. Life's Been Good

[customerserviceguy]

17. We'll know more

after the first debate. Joe may get lucky enough not to draw Pete Buttigieg as a direct opponent in the first one, but he's bound to face at least one female candidate who will go after him hard. The only practice Joe has debating a woman is Sarah Palin, and that was a cakewalk in comparison.

[cwydro]

19. Lol, no kidding!

I hadn’t thought about that.

[customerserviceguy]

20. Yes, all Joe had to do

in 2008 was not look mean to some nitwit spouting right-wing talking points. He'll have a lot more serious work to do with a woman who comes at him from the left side. This Hyde Amendment thing is not over yet.