Joe Biden No Longer Has the Luxury of Just Running Against Trump

[left-of-center2012]

Joe Biden made his bid for the Democratic nomination almost exclusively about running against President Donald Trump. But after a bruising at the hands of Kamala Harris, he’s confronting the reality that there’s a long fight ahead to become the party’s nominee.

The former vice president’s perch at the top of polls was shaken by Harris, the first-term senator from California, who confronted him at the first Democratic debate about past statements on school desegregation. That put the front-runner on the defensive and opened door for some of his party rivals to take aim at his vulnerabilities and his record, even as he tries to keep his focus on Trump.

Biden’s campaign team is reminding allies that there are many more debates ahead, and that he has plenty of time to deliver in the seven months before the Iowa caucus. Still, some supporters are uneasy.

One dedicated donor, who asked not to be identified, said that while Biden remains the candidate best suited to take on Trump, he didn’t have a great debate performance and should have been prepared to face more questions about statements made and positions taken during decades in the public eye.

Harris’s support doubled after Thursday’s debate, according to a Morning Consult survey. Some 12% of Democratic primary voters named her their first choice for president, up from 6% in a poll taken June 17-23.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-07-01/joe-biden-no-longer-has-the-luxury-of-just-running-against-trump?srnd=politics-vp

[AlexSFCA]

1. I still think he has the right strategy

focus on GE because dems will only consider one question: who can best beat trump. No other factor will play much of a role when it comes to primary this time. The first debate showed that he needs to up his game cause if he can get baited by Kamala so easily, trump will annihilate him on stage. Not a single plan that Warren discusses will play a role if she has less chance to beat trump.

[R B Garr]

2. Biden said he wasn't going to attack fellow Democrats, but

now he sees that not every candidate will honor the unity pledge.

[JenniferJuniper]

3. Well, of course they wouldn't

and he must have understood that would happen. It's still a campaign.

[R B Garr]

4. Obviously, but that explains a lot of his actions instead of

blaming it on inabilities.