Biden's single biggest mistake in the 2020 campaign

[Statilius the Epicurean]

Biden should have stuck to his 'return to normalcy' theme he centred in the early primary (such as the "nothing will fundamentally change" remark he made to donors) and not have pivoted to a more ambitious agenda during the general. To an extent this was an understandable reaction to Covid and George Floyd, but in hindisght it was a strategic mistake.

Specifically (to pick one issue), his court packing fudge was really bad. Biden's worst moments in the debates were his hemming and hawing about whether he would rule out adding justices or not. Gideon, Cunningham and Greenfield really, really didn't need swing voters to be wondering whether Senate Democrats were planning to pack the court if they got 53 votes.

Another issue Biden shouldn't have even touched is fracking bans. Although Trump misrepresented his position, Biden made it easier for him by again trying to thread the needle in order to satisfy the base.