Joe Biden 2020 campaign megathread

[The Mikado]

I'm starting to think that, just in general, Biden needs to just run on doing stupid, terrible stuff and going "yeah, so what?" on the general principle that people prefer Strong and Wrong to Weak and Right. Strong and Wrong was basically Trump's campaign slogan, it can work for us as well.

Biden trying a Trump-like strategy of no shame will never wouldn't work because the parties aren't symmetrical. The Republican Party has Fox News to spin dishonesty and most of the rest of mass media operates with the implicit assumption that Republicans are incapable of actually governing and aren't actually functioning adults. Even voters on the Right who know better will come home in the end. That's maybe going to be increasingly true on the left but there's still a massive gap that leaves Democrats at a disadvantage. The media at large will treat Democratic screw ups with more scrutiny because the Democrats are the only adults left in the room, and if a candidate stops trying to be the adult, they will lose enough voters to lose.

I don't know. I'm very skeptical of "this slice of the electorate is dumber/more gullible than that slice" arguments because one of my priors is that basically everyone is gullible and susceptible to charlatans and con men, including us. Just different types of different levels of sophistication.

[Fuzzy Bear]

"Winning" against Trump and his party by throwing away what makes us better than them is no win at all.
 
While Trump and the GOP have set the bar for "better" very low, turning the Democrats into their mirror image,  only with different shibboleths, is an even worse outcome than another Republican win. (And yes, I'm well aware that most Republicans think that is already the state of things. They are wrong, at least for now.)

This statement is nonsense if you really believe that Trump is as bad as you've been saying he is on a daily basis for years now.  You either believe your own lines or you don't, but actions will show that.

[Beet]

"Winning" against Trump and his party by throwing away what makes us better than them is no win at all.
 
While Trump and the GOP have set the bar for "better" very low, turning the Democrats into their mirror image,  only with different shibboleths, is an even worse outcome than another Republican win. (And yes, I'm well aware that most Republicans think that is already the state of things. They are wrong, at least for now.)

That rather validates my point, Ghost Ruin. They would rather win, and you would rather be right. So both will occur.

[Chancellor Tanterterg]

"Winning" against Trump and his party by throwing away what makes us better than them is no win at all.
 
While Trump and the GOP have set the bar for "better" very low, turning the Democrats into their mirror image,  only with different shibboleths, is an even worse outcome than another Republican win. (And yes, I'm well aware that most Republicans think that is already the state of things. They are wrong, at least for now.)

This statement is nonsense if you really believe that Trump is as bad as you've been saying he is on a daily basis for years now.  You either believe your own lines or you don't, but actions will show that.

Nah, it’s just reflective of the fact that Ghost of Ruin has a moral compass

"Winning" against Trump and his party by throwing away what makes us better than them is no win at all.
 
While Trump and the GOP have set the bar for "better" very low, turning the Democrats into their mirror image,  only with different shibboleths, is an even worse outcome than another Republican win. (And yes, I'm well aware that most Republicans think that is already the state of things. They are wrong, at least for now.)

That rather validates my point, Ghost Ruin. They would rather win, and you would rather be right. So both will occur.

“Becoming a proudly sociopathic personality cult of racists, misogynists, crypto-fascist clowns, corporatists who worship the dollar above all else, and Elmer Gantry evangelicals whose thirty silver pieces came in the form of federal judicial appointments, all while being led around by a mentally incompetent traitor like rats following the Pied Piper” and “losing in 2020” are not the only two options.

[💥💥 brandon bro (he/him/his)]

I'm starting to think that, just in general, Biden needs to just run on doing stupid, terrible stuff and going "yeah, so what?" on the general principle that people prefer Strong and Wrong to Weak and Right. Strong and Wrong was basically Trump's campaign slogan, it can work for us as well.

Biden trying a Trump-like strategy of no shame will never wouldn't work because the parties aren't symmetrical. The Republican Party has Fox News to spin dishonesty and most of the rest of mass media operates with the implicit assumption that Republicans are incapable of actually governing and aren't actually functioning adults. Even voters on the Right who know better will come home in the end. That's maybe going to be increasingly true on the left but there's still a massive gap that leaves Democrats at a disadvantage. The media at large will treat Democratic screw ups with more scrutiny because the Democrats are the only adults left in the room, and if a candidate stops trying to be the adult, they will lose enough voters to lose.

I don't know. I'm very skeptical of "this slice of the electorate is dumber/more gullible than that slice" arguments because one of my priors is that basically everyone is gullible and susceptible to charlatans and con men, including us. Just different types of different levels of sophistication.

I would like to think that there's a difference between being a "con man" and shameless and demonstrable lying but I could be wrong. Maybe the facts that Pritzker absolutely annihilated Bruce Rauner means I am wrong though. Ralph Northam basically exhibited this type of shameless, demonstrable lying about his yearbook and didn't get a free pass from the Democratic base, but they are pretty powerless to actually remove him from office, so it could just be posturing.

Anyway in the specific case of Joe Biden he's taking enough flack from multiple factions within the party for incredibly dumb stuff that I'm confident that if he gave people actual Trump-level nonsense that he plummet back to Earth faster than he is right now.

[JA]

Biden gambles on high-risk primary strategy

From his schedule, his messaging, to policy positions, the former vice president is carving a divergent path through the primaries based on a theory that few of his rivals appear to believe — that the Democratic base isn’t nearly as liberal or youthful as everyone thinks.

[...]

Biden’s team points to recent polls, showing that a majority of the Democratic primary electorate identify as moderate or conservative, 56 percent is over 50 and nearly 60 percent are not college educated. And they point to the results of the 2018 midterm elections that they say saw moderate Democrats win their congressional and state primaries.

“There’s a big disconnect between the media narrative and what the primary electorate looks like and thinks, versus the media narrative and the Twitter narrative,” said one Biden adviser who declined to speak on the record. “The Democratic primary universe is far less liberal. It’s older than you think it is.”

[...]

That might explain the former vice president’s digital advertising buys since entering the race. Since his launch, Biden’s campaign has disproportionately focused on targeting Facebook ads to voters 45 years and older.

They make up an estimated 62 percent of likely Democratic primary voters, according to Bully Pulpit Interactive, a top Democratic digital firm. Biden has spent 83 percent of his total $1.2 million Facebook ad money on targeting them, according to data compiled by Bully Pulpit from April 20 until May 25.

Biden's strategy is, essentially, to disregard the more caucus-going end of the Democratic Party voters in favor of its, arguably, more significantly numbered moderate and older voters. He's deliberately orienting his campaign towards overwhelmingly dominating among older, more conservative primary voters while leaving all the others to fight over the younger, more liberal wing of the party.

Like Republicans, Biden is disregarding the Millennial voters, essentially, in favor of relying on a shrinking demographic of older voters. I can only imagine how such a strategy will translate into his general election campaign, which would likely cause significant numbers of Democratic voters to feel alienated and sit out the election or vote third party.

[Bidenworth2020]

Biden gambles on high-risk primary strategy

From his schedule, his messaging, to policy positions, the former vice president is carving a divergent path through the primaries based on a theory that few of his rivals appear to believe — that the Democratic base isn’t nearly as liberal or youthful as everyone thinks.

[...]

Biden’s team points to recent polls, showing that a majority of the Democratic primary electorate identify as moderate or conservative, 56 percent is over 50 and nearly 60 percent are not college educated. And they point to the results of the 2018 midterm elections that they say saw moderate Democrats win their congressional and state primaries.

“There’s a big disconnect between the media narrative and what the primary electorate looks like and thinks, versus the media narrative and the Twitter narrative,” said one Biden adviser who declined to speak on the record. “The Democratic primary universe is far less liberal. It’s older than you think it is.”

[...]

That might explain the former vice president’s digital advertising buys since entering the race. Since his launch, Biden’s campaign has disproportionately focused on targeting Facebook ads to voters 45 years and older.

They make up an estimated 62 percent of likely Democratic primary voters, according to Bully Pulpit Interactive, a top Democratic digital firm. Biden has spent 83 percent of his total $1.2 million Facebook ad money on targeting them, according to data compiled by Bully Pulpit from April 20 until May 25.

Biden's strategy is, essentially, to disregard the more caucus-going end of the Democratic Party voters in favor of its, arguably, more significantly numbered moderate and older voters. He's deliberately orienting his campaign towards overwhelmingly dominating among older, more conservative primary voters while leaving all the others to fight over the younger, more liberal wing of the party.

Like Republicans, Biden is disregarding the Millennial voters, essentially, in favor of relying on a shrinking demographic of older voters. I can only imagine how such a strategy will translate into his general election campaign, which would likely cause significant numbers of Democratic voters to feel alienated and sit out the election or vote third party.

Nah. We all know Trump is the bigger evil, aside from some people who are too loyal to their favorite candidate to vote to save our country.

[Roronoa D. Law]

Biden gambles on high-risk primary strategy

From his schedule, his messaging, to policy positions, the former vice president is carving a divergent path through the primaries based on a theory that few of his rivals appear to believe — that the Democratic base isn’t nearly as liberal or youthful as everyone thinks.

[...]

Biden’s team points to recent polls, showing that a majority of the Democratic primary electorate identify as moderate or conservative, 56 percent is over 50 and nearly 60 percent are not college educated. And they point to the results of the 2018 midterm elections that they say saw moderate Democrats win their congressional and state primaries.

“There’s a big disconnect between the media narrative and what the primary electorate looks like and thinks, versus the media narrative and the Twitter narrative,” said one Biden adviser who declined to speak on the record. “The Democratic primary universe is far less liberal. It’s older than you think it is.”

[...]

That might explain the former vice president’s digital advertising buys since entering the race. Since his launch, Biden’s campaign has disproportionately focused on targeting Facebook ads to voters 45 years and older.

They make up an estimated 62 percent of likely Democratic primary voters, according to Bully Pulpit Interactive, a top Democratic digital firm. Biden has spent 83 percent of his total $1.2 million Facebook ad money on targeting them, according to data compiled by Bully Pulpit from April 20 until May 25.

Biden's strategy is, essentially, to disregard the more caucus-going end of the Democratic Party voters in favor of its, arguably, more significantly numbered moderate and older voters. He's deliberately orienting his campaign towards overwhelmingly dominating among older, more conservative primary voters while leaving all the others to fight over the younger, more liberal wing of the party.

Like Republicans, Biden is disregarding the Millennial voters, essentially, in favor of relying on a shrinking demographic of older voters. I can only imagine how such a strategy will translate into his general election campaign, which would likely cause significant numbers of Democratic voters to feel alienated and sit out the election or vote third party.

Nah. We all know Trump is the bigger evil, aside from some people who are too loyal to their favorite candidate to vote to save our country.

That not how the far left white liberals are seeing it. It's their party and they get the choose the nominee even if they are in the minority. Their opinion matters more than any other Democratic voter and if they don't get what they want they will through a tantrum and sabotage the party because they believe it will teach other Democrats a lesson.

[The Mikado]

Biden gambles on high-risk primary strategy

From his schedule, his messaging, to policy positions, the former vice president is carving a divergent path through the primaries based on a theory that few of his rivals appear to believe — that the Democratic base isn’t nearly as liberal or youthful as everyone thinks.

[...]

Biden’s team points to recent polls, showing that a majority of the Democratic primary electorate identify as moderate or conservative, 56 percent is over 50 and nearly 60 percent are not college educated. And they point to the results of the 2018 midterm elections that they say saw moderate Democrats win their congressional and state primaries.

“There’s a big disconnect between the media narrative and what the primary electorate looks like and thinks, versus the media narrative and the Twitter narrative,” said one Biden adviser who declined to speak on the record. “The Democratic primary universe is far less liberal. It’s older than you think it is.”

[...]

That might explain the former vice president’s digital advertising buys since entering the race. Since his launch, Biden’s campaign has disproportionately focused on targeting Facebook ads to voters 45 years and older.

They make up an estimated 62 percent of likely Democratic primary voters, according to Bully Pulpit Interactive, a top Democratic digital firm. Biden has spent 83 percent of his total $1.2 million Facebook ad money on targeting them, according to data compiled by Bully Pulpit from April 20 until May 25.

Biden's strategy is, essentially, to disregard the more caucus-going end of the Democratic Party voters in favor of its, arguably, more significantly numbered moderate and older voters. He's deliberately orienting his campaign towards overwhelmingly dominating among older, more conservative primary voters while leaving all the others to fight over the younger, more liberal wing of the party.

Like Republicans, Biden is disregarding the Millennial voters, essentially, in favor of relying on a shrinking demographic of older voters. I can only imagine how such a strategy will translate into his general election campaign, which would likely cause significant numbers of Democratic voters to feel alienated and sit out the election or vote third party.

How is this not just "smart primary strategy?" Focus on maxing people who are open to you rather than chasing people who never, ever will?

Biden's strategy's biggest advantage is that no one else is seriously targeting the elderly, so he can corner the market. Look at all ofthe polls with him having half of the 65+s while no one else is out of single digits with them.

If other candidates want to beat Biden, they'll eventually have to learn how to appeal to the elderly, but everyone else seems unable, unwilling, or both to do so. Sanders isn't even trying to speak to people in his age cohort!

[Ilhan Apologist]

Biden gambles on high-risk primary strategy

From his schedule, his messaging, to policy positions, the former vice president is carving a divergent path through the primaries based on a theory that few of his rivals appear to believe — that the Democratic base isn’t nearly as liberal or youthful as everyone thinks.

[...]

Biden’s team points to recent polls, showing that a majority of the Democratic primary electorate identify as moderate or conservative, 56 percent is over 50 and nearly 60 percent are not college educated. And they point to the results of the 2018 midterm elections that they say saw moderate Democrats win their congressional and state primaries.

“There’s a big disconnect between the media narrative and what the primary electorate looks like and thinks, versus the media narrative and the Twitter narrative,” said one Biden adviser who declined to speak on the record. “The Democratic primary universe is far less liberal. It’s older than you think it is.”

[...]

That might explain the former vice president’s digital advertising buys since entering the race. Since his launch, Biden’s campaign has disproportionately focused on targeting Facebook ads to voters 45 years and older.

They make up an estimated 62 percent of likely Democratic primary voters, according to Bully Pulpit Interactive, a top Democratic digital firm. Biden has spent 83 percent of his total $1.2 million Facebook ad money on targeting them, according to data compiled by Bully Pulpit from April 20 until May 25.

Biden's strategy is, essentially, to disregard the more caucus-going end of the Democratic Party voters in favor of its, arguably, more significantly numbered moderate and older voters. He's deliberately orienting his campaign towards overwhelmingly dominating among older, more conservative primary voters while leaving all the others to fight over the younger, more liberal wing of the party.

Like Republicans, Biden is disregarding the Millennial voters, essentially, in favor of relying on a shrinking demographic of older voters. I can only imagine how such a strategy will translate into his general election campaign, which would likely cause significant numbers of Democratic voters to feel alienated and sit out the election or vote third party.

Nah. We all know Trump is the bigger evil, aside from some people who are too loyal to their favorite candidate to vote to save our country.

That worked out well in 2016

[Beet]

Biden could be a powerful force by racking up big delegate margins in the rural South. I can see him sweeping all but a handful of urban counties in Oklahoma, the Florida Panhandle, Missouri, Tennessee and Arkansas, etc. These may not be the places you think of with the words 'Democratic Party' but they do have delegates.

One thing that's interesting to think about is, if it looks like he will go into the convention with a plurality but not near majority. Will the other candidates just drop out and endorse him, or will there be some sort of "stop Biden" movement among the liberals/progressives that tries to rally around someone more acceptable to the activists?

[Rookie Yinzer]

This country is doomed:

https://twitter.com/samstein/status/1138246601309376512

[freepcrusher]

am I the only one who thinks Biden sort of reminds me of mayor west in family guy.

[junior chįmp]

This country is doomed:

https://twitter.com/samstein/status/1138246601309376512

He really is a clown of epic proportions

[Absentee Voting Ghost of Ruin]

This country is doomed:

https://twitter.com/samstein/status/1138246601309376512

(I'm starting to think that my main criteria for supporting a candidate in the primary is going to be, "Has the best chance of beating Biden, without spouting any 'bipartisan' nonsense."

[💥💥 brandon bro (he/him/his)]

This country is doomed:

https://twitter.com/samstein/status/1138246601309376512

wew lad

it is possible that this quote is taken out of context but the universe of contexts where a quote like this is justifiable, let alone reassuring, is incredibly narrow

See lads, when I say that twitter types are doing themselves a disservice by focusing on non-stories at the expense of actually troubling things Biden says and does, this is exactly the type of troubling thing I am talking about that y'all should be saving your ammo for. A statement like this is essentially unforgivable for somebody who served in the Obama administration.

[The Mikado]

IMO Biden critics are massively failing at expectations management at the debates. People keep saying Biden will bomb or drop at the debates, which means that if Biden manages to be noncontroversial and boring and doesn't flame out, he wins. Biden beats debate expectations etc. Why don't people write sbout how scared they are that Ace Debater Joe Biden will slice his opponents into sashimi with his mastery of facts and logic, so they can talk about him disappointing at the debate?

[American2020]

IMO Biden critics are massively failing at expectations management at the debates. People keep saying Biden will bomb or drop at the debates, which means that if Biden manages to be noncontroversial and boring and doesn't flame out, he wins. Biden beats debate expectations etc. Why don't people write sbout how scared they are that Ace Debater Joe Biden will slice his opponents into sashimi with his mastery of facts and logic, so they can talk about him disappointing at the debate?

Can't wait the debates.

[American2020]

https://twitter.com/kylegriffin1/status/1138408055048196096

https://twitter.com/politico/status/1138403001654304768

[Saint Milei]

Nah trump right. He is Sleepy Joe. His speech in Iowa is so boring

[Hammy]

This country is doomed:

https://twitter.com/samstein/status/1138246601309376512

wew lad

it is possible that this quote is taken out of context but the universe of contexts where a quote like this is justifiable, let alone reassuring, is incredibly narrow

See lads, when I say that twitter types are doing themselves a disservice by focusing on non-stories at the expense of actually troubling things Biden says and does, this is exactly the type of troubling thing I am talking about that y'all should be saving your ammo for. A statement like this is essentially unforgivable for somebody who served in the Obama administration.

More evidence a Biden presidency would be the end of the Democratic Party and any semblance of forward policies.

[bilaps]

Biden is really painful to watch. His attack is good on paper but delivery, it's just a mess, I can't see anyone being overwhelmed by that.

[junior chįmp]

Slurrin Joe in the news again showing us his impeccable judgment:

https://mobile.twitter.com/aterkel/status/1138476147400986624

[Progressive Pessimist]

Slurrin Joe in the news again showing us his impeccable judgment:

https://mobile.twitter.com/aterkel/status/1138476147400986624

I guess he was the original Susan Collins...

[junior chįmp]

Slurrin Joe in the news again showing us his impeccable judgment:

https://mobile.twitter.com/aterkel/status/1138476147400986624

I guess he was the original Susan Collins...

Rofl

https://mobile.twitter.com/aterkel/status/1138476771546980354