Team Biden Braces to Be Clobbered From Both Sides

[DonViejo]

The former vice president’s supporters seem clear-eyed about the challenges that await him in a presidential primary and think Biden’s record will speak for itself.

Gideon Resnick
03.19.19 4:10 AM ET

DOVER, Delaware—Joe Biden and his allies know the criticism coming their way. The former vice president's brand of politics is too outdated, his ideology too centrist, his career too riddled with bad compromises and even worse votes. And yet, as Biden readies to formally announce his third presidential bid in the coming weeks, they aren’t only prepping for the attacks ahead, they don’t think it will ultimately have much of an impact.

“I don’t think that Joe Biden wrings his hands about his legacy one bit given what he has accomplished as a senator, VP and family man. Regardless of whether he runs or he doesn’t run or if he runs and wins or loses he know who he is,” pollster John Anzalone, who has been advising Biden on a 2020 run, told The Daily Beast. “Joe Biden is a resilient, tough son of a bitch. You can quote me on that.”

Presidential campaigns are uniquely trying crucibles. Few know that better than Biden, who has launched two failed bids, one ending in controversy and the other with not much fanfare at all. Those bids have left some wary that a third run will end in similarly dispiriting fashion, only this time with a sterling reputation built up through decades of public service effectively diminished.

“He operated at a different time and environment and will have a lot to answer for,” a former Obama-Biden aide told The Daily Beast. “Look at Hillary Clinton’s numbers before she got into the 2016 race. The most popular moment is when you're a prospective candidate and a statesman who can shape the field from the outside. Being in presidential campaigns tends to be diminishing for everyone except for the victor.”

But those past runs also have given Biden and his team the type of experience that they believe can suit them well in 2020. Cognizant of the criticisms to come, they have begun the prebuttal process, readying endorsements, pitching him as the man to beat Trump, and stressing not just Biden’s electability but positioning him as instrumental to some of the most important pieces of progressive reform in the past few decades.

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[bearsfootball516]

1. This will be the nastiest primary we've seen, imo.

Everyone knows Trump is hanging by a thread and his popularity is underwater in many key swing states. Everyone wants to be the one who knocks him off.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

3. I sure hope not. Trump won't be taken down if Dems are divided.

I hope the candidates and their supporters (especially their supporters) can put their egos aside and work together to unseat this monster, even if only one of them gets to be the one in the lead.

[stonecutter357]

2. Biden can take it .

[calimary]

5. Problem is, his "verbal gaffe disease."

He just blurred out another one about already being in the race and then having to add a quick correction.

That’s starting to bother me. And I hate it! Because I’d vote for Biden and support his candidacy if he’s the nominee, and I’d do it gladly (as opposed to reluctantly with a few others). But it just keeps happening, dammit! Nothing game-ending by itself, but the cumulative effect is likely to be another one of those figurative “death by a thousand cuts” things. Slowly letting the air out of his tires just enough to create just enough doubt in just enough of the electorate: “can we afford to put all our chips on a guy who is tremendously likeable but can’t seem to stop stepping on his own tongue?”

I like Biden, too. But he may not be “the one.” And he’s got the age thing working against him, too.

[R B Garr]

7. That last one was hardly a "gaffe", though. Some of this

is really overdone.

He doesn’t have a tired rally speech that he repeats. He actually speaks to each gathering individually.

That last “gaffe” could have been intentional to get people talking. It sounded tongue in cheek.

[calimary]

15. Totally. But it's also the kind of thing that can easily be grabbed and

distorted and blown out of proportion. And then the enemy can basically dress it up and take it out dancing and blur it into a greater whole that they can manipulate to the negative in the public perception.

Unfortunately, it’s all PERCEPTION MANAGEMENT.

ALL of it. And the legions who aren’t paying attention or aren’t keeping close track - they’re the most easily and readily caught. Like fish swimming near the surface who can just be swooped up in a net.

And what you NEVER want to do is give the bad guys an opening!!!!! Don’t feed the hungry beast over there on the Dark Side!!!

I’ve spent a LOT of time recently, observing and meditation on the whole idea of “reasonable doubt” - manipulation of the public perception for devious reasons, muddying the waters, clouding the issue, raising mostly stupid and nonsensical questions, blurring the facts, and dumbing down the public mindset. The bad guys (and it’s mainly and mostly on the CON side) have been working this for decades, in thought, word, and deed. They’ve raised it to a VERY fine art by now, and they know all the tricks. And they NEVER hesitate to use as many of ‘em as they can get away with doing.

Which is why WE ALL need to be hyper-aware of their tricks. Forewarned IS INDEED fore-armed, and far more resistant to these mental “viruses” the CONS are always trying to spread like the ultimate social disease. (HAH! The ultimate SOCIAL disease, you might say!)

The more WE know and are aware of, the better for us, and the worse for them. Certainly in this regard, the best offense is a good defense.

[still_one]

8. you're right, and any candidate who can't take it, shouldn't be running

[Renew Deal]

4. "He operated at a different time and environment and will have a lot to answer for,"

And this will not go well

[lark]

9. I disagree.

Joe has a fundamental kindness, decency and relatability that no one else has. He is the quintessential working class guy who took a train to work for decades. He also has vast experience which is so crucial after the drumpf/PUtin destruction of 4 years . He can put things back together again or at least make a great start on that. We know Joe can and will stand up to Russia, SA and Israel and won't brook their interference. He can also give as good as he takes and I know he can handle Russia's tool in a debate and wipe the floor with the orange assmouth.

He will be targeted exactly because he is so popular, but it won't swing the results and Joe can take it.

Come on in Joe, the waters' fine!

[Stellar]

6. I think people see Biden and think Obama...

Folks in Chicago saw Rahm Emanuel and got him. Worse mistake made. Couldn't get rid of him fast enough.

[peggysue2]

10. There's no doubt that the Big Guns will . . .

be out for Joe Biden because he is a major, major threat. That being said, Biden has had a long time to develop a strategy for his detractors and a rhinoceros hide, layers upon layers, built from political and personal losses. Unlike other candidates.

We shall see. The fireworks are about to begin!

[ucrdem]

11. I know he has a good Anita Hill response ready.

I heard him give it on NPR a couple of years ago when his book came out. It surprised me because by then I'd come to believe that he'd done something underhanded or shady. Nope. He did everything he could do for her and voted against the Thomas nomination. And he apologized for the trouble she went through anyway. So I think he'll be ready.

[peggysue2]

12. I think so, too, ucrdem

There's something to be said for years of experience in the line of fire. This race is Biden's to lose.

I think he's well aware of that fact.

[ucrdem]

13. Exactly, I think he's taking this one very seriously

and the long deliberation is probably part of a lead-up to a dramatic announcement he's been working on for some time. I'm glad he's dropped a few hints which I suspect aren't as gaffe-y as they might seem to certain tweeters.

[BlueStater]

14. Really, really wish he wouldn't run.

So weird that we have a presidential candidate in 2019 who has to defend votes he made in like 1975.