67% of Democrats want someone other than Biden; 82% can’t name who they want

[Progressive Pessimist]

It’s really amazing how a lot of left leaning people say they don’t like Joe Biden yet

1. Can’t name anyone better

2. Either Can’t articulate exactly what they don’t like about Biden or blame him for not achieving some next to impossible action or not tackling some issue they had not heard about till they scrolled through twitter that day

I'll vote for Biden over Trump.  But I'm shopping for an alternative to Biden because I really, really don't like his age.  If a Republican other than Trump is nominated, I might vote for them over Biden -- I'd have to see how they handle the pivot from the primary to the general election campaign.  I've never voted R for any federal or gubernatorial office in the past.

I'd really like to see Tim Walz, or Dean Phillips, or Amy Klobuchar instead of Biden on the Democratic ticket.  And that's just among Democrats from Minnesota.

I don't want to come across as a confontational instigator or anything, but in what specific way do you believe Biden's age has negatively impacted his ability to do the job of President? This is where I feel a real disconnect from the average American who is bothered by Biden's age. He is indeed old and comes across that way but it's not like he has been mistaking "lunch" for "launch." At worst he he stumbles over his words every now and again...which he kind of always has done throughout his life.

I get that Americans overall are tired of the gerontocracy at all levels of government, but I do expect that to end in 2028 after Biden. There is finally a talented crop of relativelty young rising stars in the Democratic Party, but even they know that sticking with Biden for now is for the best and can wait their turn.

And I feel the need to inform you that this election will be Biden vs. Trump no matter what. So you might as well start backing Biden now, especially since you appear to live in what has become one if the nation's most important swing states.

I feel like the universal expectation in the 2020 primary was Biden was going to defeat Trump and serve one term after. The one term and pass to the torch expectation kind of smoothed over age concerns in the primary. Most Dem voters were probably not expecting the idea of voting for a soon to be 86 y/o President down the road. So the polling on this makes sense to me. Biden has accomplished enough that he could step aside and still have a respectable legacy but there's his ego and he boxed himself with Harris, maybe on purpose.

I was kind of on the same page with that expectation until the 2022 midterms failed to be the GOP wave that it easily could have been. After that I think it became clear that sticking with Biden would be more advantageous than a divisive primary which Harris probably would have been the frontrunner for. Biden has very clear faults that many cannot seem to get over, but the 2022 midterms suggested to me that his negative approvals might be more out of indifference than outright seething hatred, and that might remain true.

If 2024 becomes a choice as 2022 turned into instead of a referendum, which should be an easy case to make against Trump, then I expect revulsion to Trump to motivate voters to back Biden more than anything.

[Minnesota Mike]

I don't want to come across as a confontational instigator or anything, but in what specific way do you believe Biden's age has negatively impacted his ability to do the job of President? This is where I feel a real disconnect from the average American who is bothered by Biden's age. He is indeed old and comes across that way but it's not like he has been mistaking "lunch" for "launch." At worst he he stumbles over his words every now and again...which he kind of always has done throughout his life.

I get that Americans overall are tired of the getontocracy at all levels of government, but I do expect that to end in 2028 after Biden. There is finally a talented crop of relativelty young rising stars in the Demicratic Party, but even they know that sticking with Biden for now is for the best and can wait their turn.

And I feel the need to inform you that this election will be Biden vs. Trump no matter what. So you might as well start backing Biden now, especially since you appear to live in what has become one if the nation's most important swing states.

Bottom line for me is IMHO the Biden administration is doing a pretty good job, certainly better than a Republican administration would be doing. Even if Joe is the senile grandpa being told what to do by a cabal of Democratic heavyweights (he's not) good things are getting done and I will gladly vote for him again.

[Progressive Pessimist]

I don't want to come across as a confontational instigator or anything, but in what specific way do you believe Biden's age has negatively impacted his ability to do the job of President? This is where I feel a real disconnect from the average American who is bothered by Biden's age. He is indeed old and comes across that way but it's not like he has been mistaking "lunch" for "launch." At worst he he stumbles over his words every now and again...which he kind of always has done throughout his life.

I get that Americans overall are tired of the getontocracy at all levels of government, but I do expect that to end in 2028 after Biden. There is finally a talented crop of relativelty young rising stars in the Demicratic Party, but even they know that sticking with Biden for now is for the best and can wait their turn.

And I feel the need to inform you that this election will be Biden vs. Trump no matter what. So you might as well start backing Biden now, especially since you appear to live in what has become one if the nation's most important swing states.

Bottom line for me is IMHO the Biden administration is doing a pretty good job, certainly better than a Republican administration would be doing. Even if Joe is the senile grandpa being told what to do by a cabal of Democratic heavyweights (he's not) good things are getting done and I will gladly vote for him again.

I'm hoping that once the campaigning actually begins more tepid Democrats and Independents will come to that conclusion as well, especially over Trump.

[Inverted Things]

It’s really amazing how a lot of left leaning people say they don’t like Joe Biden yet

1. Can’t name anyone better

2. Either Can’t articulate exactly what they don’t like about Biden or blame him for not achieving some next to impossible action or not tackling some issue they had not heard about till they scrolled through twitter that day

I'll vote for Biden over Trump.  But I'm shopping for an alternative to Biden because I really, really don't like his age.  If a Republican other than Trump is nominated, I might vote for them over Biden -- I'd have to see how they handle the pivot from the primary to the general election campaign.  I've never voted R for any federal or gubernatorial office in the past.

I'd really like to see Tim Walz, or Dean Phillips, or Amy Klobuchar instead of Biden on the Democratic ticket.  And that's just among Democrats from Minnesota.

I don't want to come across as a confontational instigator or anything, but in what specific way do you believe Biden's age has negatively impacted his ability to do the job of President?

It hasn't, and I agree that Biden has done a good job, generally.  In 2024, if I do cast a vote for Biden, it will not be based on what he accomplished in the previous four years.  It'll be based on expectations for the next four years, and his age is a highly relevant factor there.  I will thus be really assessing it as Harris vs. R nominee.

Harris does not impress me much, mostly because she had so much going for her in the 2020 primaries, and couldn't even make it to Iowa.  I'd certainly take her over Trump; I'm just much less sure about voting her against other candidates.

[Joe Biden 2028]

I like Presidents with experience. Give me a old white guy anyday.

I can maybe see an argument for old age bringing wisdom, but I'm not really sure what race and gender have to do with it.

It doesn't it. "Old white guy" is code for someone who has been in DC for a while.

[Progressive Pessimist]

It’s really amazing how a lot of left leaning people say they don’t like Joe Biden yet

1. Can’t name anyone better

2. Either Can’t articulate exactly what they don’t like about Biden or blame him for not achieving some next to impossible action or not tackling some issue they had not heard about till they scrolled through twitter that day

I'll vote for Biden over Trump.  But I'm shopping for an alternative to Biden because I really, really don't like his age.  If a Republican other than Trump is nominated, I might vote for them over Biden -- I'd have to see how they handle the pivot from the primary to the general election campaign.  I've never voted R for any federal or gubernatorial office in the past.

I'd really like to see Tim Walz, or Dean Phillips, or Amy Klobuchar instead of Biden on the Democratic ticket.  And that's just among Democrats from Minnesota.

I don't want to come across as a confontational instigator or anything, but in what specific way do you believe Biden's age has negatively impacted his ability to do the job of President?

It hasn't, and I agree that Biden has done a good job, generally.  In 2024, if I do cast a vote for Biden, it will not be based on what he accomplished in the previous four years.  It'll be based on expectations for the next four years, and his age is a highly relevant factor there.  I will thus be really assessing it as Harris vs. R nominee.

Harris does not impress me much, mostly because she had so much going for her in the 2020 primaries, and couldn't even make it to Iowa.  I'd certainly take her over Trump; I'm just much less sure about voting her against other candidates.

Fair enough. But speaking for myself again, I don't get the dislike for Harris either. But after Hillary Clinton lost in 2016, I have to accept that some candidates are simply disliked and not meant for a national election at certain times. So I doubt I'd back her in a primary. But anybody should be considered less of a risk being in the White House than Trump. I don't know what else to say.

[ponderosa peen 🌲]

Common wisdom at some point was that women and Black voters (and of course, especially Black women) would be in open revolt if Kamala was passed over for somebody else and yet polls show absolutely nobody wants her to run. She's tied with RFKJ in this poll. Amazing. She proves to be a worse VP pick every coming month.

[Progressive Pessimist]

Common wisdom at some point was that women and Black voters (and of course, especially Black women) would be in open revolt if Kamala was passed over for somebody else and yet polls show absolutely nobody wants her to run. She's tied with RFKJ in this poll. Amazing. She proves to be a worse VP pick every coming month.

I still don't think she does much harm as a running mate. Her being nominated in the future is a different story.

[ηєω ƒяσηтιєя]

Even though I think that this CNN poll is overall trash (particularly the general election matchup results). This part isn't surprising.

Unfortunately, yes, Biden's age is his biggest weakness. If he were 20 years younger, he would be in cruise control.

Many people think that Biden is "useless" and "does nothing," despite that not being the case. Most people vote based on "vibes," not really reality. Biden's "vibe" to many people (even many Democrats) is that he's an "old fool".

[Inverted Things]

It’s really amazing how a lot of left leaning people say they don’t like Joe Biden yet

1. Can’t name anyone better

2. Either Can’t articulate exactly what they don’t like about Biden or blame him for not achieving some next to impossible action or not tackling some issue they had not heard about till they scrolled through twitter that day

I'll vote for Biden over Trump.  But I'm shopping for an alternative to Biden because I really, really don't like his age.  If a Republican other than Trump is nominated, I might vote for them over Biden -- I'd have to see how they handle the pivot from the primary to the general election campaign.  I've never voted R for any federal or gubernatorial office in the past.

I'd really like to see Tim Walz, or Dean Phillips, or Amy Klobuchar instead of Biden on the Democratic ticket.  And that's just among Democrats from Minnesota.

I don't want to come across as a confontational instigator or anything, but in what specific way do you believe Biden's age has negatively impacted his ability to do the job of President?

It hasn't, and I agree that Biden has done a good job, generally.  In 2024, if I do cast a vote for Biden, it will not be based on what he accomplished in the previous four years.  It'll be based on expectations for the next four years, and his age is a highly relevant factor there.  I will thus be really assessing it as Harris vs. R nominee.

Harris does not impress me much, mostly because she had so much going for her in the 2020 primaries, and couldn't even make it to Iowa.  I'd certainly take her over Trump; I'm just much less sure about voting her against other candidates.

Fair enough. But speaking for myself again, I don't get the dislike for Harris either. But after Hillary Clinton lost in 2016, I have to accept that some candidates are simply disliked and not meant for a national election at certain times. So I doubt I'd back her in a primary. But anybody should be considered less of a risk being in the White House than Trump. I don't know what else to say.

I tend to agree with you about Trump.  If it's Trump vs. Biden, I'll vote Biden.  Trump vs. Harris, I'll vote Harris.  As far as primaries go, I'll be voting in the 2024 Republican primary so as to try to have a non-Trump Republican nominee.

[Mr.Bakari-Sellers]

Nate Silver says it's a 303/225 222/213 DH and 51/49 S MT, OH, AZ and MO THE POLL THAT SAYS Trump +1 is bogus its Biden +3 just like Harris X says 52/48.

CNN should be ashamed ABC this week with George Stephanopoulos is sponsored by CNN and they had in 2016 Nate Silver on saying Hillary it was a 303/225 map

Kunce is gonna be Sen elect, Persian Gulf II vet with Duckworth, Gallego, Kunce and Slotkin in the Senate

That's why Gilchrist didn't run Slotkin is so strong and John JaMes is GONE


I told you polls LIE we still have to Vote

[HillGoose]

the ghost of Scoop Jackson duh

[Progressive Pessimist]

It’s really amazing how a lot of left leaning people say they don’t like Joe Biden yet

1. Can’t name anyone better

2. Either Can’t articulate exactly what they don’t like about Biden or blame him for not achieving some next to impossible action or not tackling some issue they had not heard about till they scrolled through twitter that day

I'll vote for Biden over Trump.  But I'm shopping for an alternative to Biden because I really, really don't like his age.  If a Republican other than Trump is nominated, I might vote for them over Biden -- I'd have to see how they handle the pivot from the primary to the general election campaign.  I've never voted R for any federal or gubernatorial office in the past.

I'd really like to see Tim Walz, or Dean Phillips, or Amy Klobuchar instead of Biden on the Democratic ticket.  And that's just among Democrats from Minnesota.

I don't want to come across as a confontational instigator or anything, but in what specific way do you believe Biden's age has negatively impacted his ability to do the job of President?

It hasn't, and I agree that Biden has done a good job, generally.  In 2024, if I do cast a vote for Biden, it will not be based on what he accomplished in the previous four years.  It'll be based on expectations for the next four years, and his age is a highly relevant factor there.  I will thus be really assessing it as Harris vs. R nominee.

Harris does not impress me much, mostly because she had so much going for her in the 2020 primaries, and couldn't even make it to Iowa.  I'd certainly take her over Trump; I'm just much less sure about voting her against other candidates.

Fair enough. But speaking for myself again, I don't get the dislike for Harris either. But after Hillary Clinton lost in 2016, I have to accept that some candidates are simply disliked and not meant for a national election at certain times. So I doubt I'd back her in a primary. But anybody should be considered less of a risk being in the White House than Trump. I don't know what else to say.

I tend to agree with you about Trump.  If it's Trump vs. Biden, I'll vote Biden.  Trump vs. Harris, I'll vote Harris.  As far as primaries go, I'll be voting in the 2024 Republican primary so as to try to have a non-Trump Republican nominee.

You do what you think is right when it comes to your vote. I just think that the Biden vs. Trump rematch is inevitable no matter what.

But out of curiosity, which of the Republican candidates do you think you would vote for in the primary?

[Inverted Things]

It’s really amazing how a lot of left leaning people say they don’t like Joe Biden yet

1. Can’t name anyone better

2. Either Can’t articulate exactly what they don’t like about Biden or blame him for not achieving some next to impossible action or not tackling some issue they had not heard about till they scrolled through twitter that day

I'll vote for Biden over Trump.  But I'm shopping for an alternative to Biden because I really, really don't like his age.  If a Republican other than Trump is nominated, I might vote for them over Biden -- I'd have to see how they handle the pivot from the primary to the general election campaign.  I've never voted R for any federal or gubernatorial office in the past.

I'd really like to see Tim Walz, or Dean Phillips, or Amy Klobuchar instead of Biden on the Democratic ticket.  And that's just among Democrats from Minnesota.

I don't want to come across as a confontational instigator or anything, but in what specific way do you believe Biden's age has negatively impacted his ability to do the job of President?

It hasn't, and I agree that Biden has done a good job, generally.  In 2024, if I do cast a vote for Biden, it will not be based on what he accomplished in the previous four years.  It'll be based on expectations for the next four years, and his age is a highly relevant factor there.  I will thus be really assessing it as Harris vs. R nominee.

Harris does not impress me much, mostly because she had so much going for her in the 2020 primaries, and couldn't even make it to Iowa.  I'd certainly take her over Trump; I'm just much less sure about voting her against other candidates.

Fair enough. But speaking for myself again, I don't get the dislike for Harris either. But after Hillary Clinton lost in 2016, I have to accept that some candidates are simply disliked and not meant for a national election at certain times. So I doubt I'd back her in a primary. But anybody should be considered less of a risk being in the White House than Trump. I don't know what else to say.

I tend to agree with you about Trump.  If it's Trump vs. Biden, I'll vote Biden.  Trump vs. Harris, I'll vote Harris.  As far as primaries go, I'll be voting in the 2024 Republican primary so as to try to have a non-Trump Republican nominee.

You do what you think is right when it comes to your vote. I just think that the Biden vs. Trump rematch is inevitable no matter what.

But out of curiosity, which of the Republican candidates do you think you would vote for in the primary?

My top tier is Haley, Christie, Burgum (I guess I like governors?  Maybe because they're a bit more pragmatic -- right wing ideology isn't exactly my cup of tea).

[Mr.Bakari-Sellers]

Biden hasn't laid out his campaign slogan yet but he does have a plan to increase revenue by raising taxes only on the wealthy, Trump has zero plan to improve people lives except keep his tax cuts Trickled down Economics, the campaign has began but there hasn't been any Convention and no party platform, Rs have zilch, last time in 20 he had Stimulus checks but Rs didn't endorse 2K checks that's why Trump lost

There is nothing from the Rs to improve poverty, because they can't raise taxes Grover Norquist made them take a no Tax increase pledge, Ds will raise taxes they Reconciliation .

Tax cuts only on the wealthy is very unpopular than before the Pandemic in 2016 that's why Trump is down 9 in VA and 20 in both IL, CA and down 15 in NY, His tax cuts when Trump won 2016 were very popular with middle class when he beat HILLARY not now


Females are 2/1 white, blk and Latinos against Trump tax cuts and blk and and Latinos are overwhelming against it too, because it does nothing for blue collar labor and Teachers


Just like Bush W won Reelection in 2004 his tax cuts were still popular and in 2008 the same tax cuts like Trump was unpopular in a Great Recession now we are still in a Pandemic

[Talk Elections Oracle]

Whitmer ... would have been a far better pick.

How about Karen Bass or Stacey Abrams?

why not poll them?

Because there's a million of them, which means it'll cost even more money (than usual) to conduct  those surveys. Besides, none of them  are ever going to win (at least not by  beating Biden) anyway, so it's sorta just a moot point  instead.

most of these people can't possess a national profile just yet. Mark Kelly, Raphael Warnock, and Gretchen Whitmer are the exceptions to that rule.

No one outside of their home states (home regions if you feel like being extra generous today) knows who any of them are.

but would they even WANT to run for President

If Biden wasn't, then ... maybe? Sure, I suppose so.

There's definitely a perception among most people outside of the party activist bubble that Biden is a do-nothing President (at best) and an incompetent senile fool (at worst), regardless of where the truth actually lies. Perceptions matter a hell of a lot more than the facts on the ground, and Democrats need to come to terms with this fact.

Precisely.

shouldn’t these voters still come home to him?

Some  of them   will, but  not all. That  could make  the difference  in a close election (which 2024 will be).

Even if they all show up, very few of them are going to bring a friend to the polls or convince them to back Biden too. They won't be knocking on doors, handing out pamphlets, making phone calls, voter registration drives, sending money to his team, energizing the down-ballot congressional vote, etc.

people are missing the obvious fact that, in a world where Biden had stepped aside, we would have been seeing a crowded, messy Democratic primary, as Trump cruises to the GOP nomination.

A lot of Democratic officials would hate that outcome. I've met people who think the length and size of the 2020 primaries hurt the Democratic party, and I think ... they might have a point? I don't see how a Biden-less 2024 would have been much different from the 2020 "clown car"

Yes, that's completely true—just  what I was thinking, too!

Some will, simply due to Trump.

But there's definitely also a lot of people who are disillusioned enough with Biden's uninspired and 'boring' image (particularly young voters) that they may just stay home or vote 3rd party in 2024, even against Trump. Regardless of how true such a paradigm actually is, a lot of young voters (especially young leftists) see establishment liberals and Republicans as being nothing but two sides of the same corporatist coin.

American politics is something that's very easy to get disillusioned about in the modern day, and you're not going to win many favors by trying to explain Modern Monetary Theory to someone who's complaining about their leaky roof.

Very well-put—and  totally correct  too, I should add!

[Talk Elections Oracle]

Just because he's an old straight white guy. That's it.

Ah yes. Biden's image suffers from voters' suppressed  reverse racism, reverse sexism, reverse ageism, and heterophobia. That must explain why everyone seems to hate him!!!

2016 was a unique case, due to Hillary Clinton's presence  on the ballot.

Says the same people who insisted she was a uniquely, even historically, strong candidate  until the very day  she lost  to Trump.

Biden doesn't have  any of Hillary's issues.

Excuse me, what?

Also, won’t Trump have a similar enthusiasm issue regarding some of his soft supporters?

He will, and I think that's an underrated factor  in  the upcoming presidential contest.

We have to take a step back and realize  not  all  his voters  are  fierce, rabid partisans.

He couldn't have won in 2016 or come as close as he did  in 2020   without  significant coalescence of  not just "the base", but  a number of  reluctant, disillusioned Republicans  who could never imagine  voting for  a Democratic nominee.

Nonetheless, I think that group's heavily overrepresented within the DC chattering class, and there's probably quite a bit  less  of them  than  there are  of  the equivalent  problem  on Biden's side.

Not sure experience has much do to with things. Trump had zero electoral experience and got elected.  Obama was a first-term U.S. senator.

I think  that poster  may have been  referring to  the job they'd do  as POTUS—not necessarily how well  they'd perform  against Trump (or  any other Republican, for  that matter).

I prefer presidents who have experience instead. Give me an old white guy any day of the week.

Why is  any of  this  racist stereotyping  even permitted  to fester  here  on Atlas? Seriously, come on.

the universal expectation in the 2020 primary was that Biden [would only] serve a single term upon  his election

Among  primary voters, it clearly wasn't. If you thought Biden wouldn't at least try to run  for re-election (read: barring any national political collapse, global disaster, or "personal" health issues) then you were simply disconnected from the reality of the rules in the new arena.

he boxed himself in with Harris, maybe  on purpose.

You surely have to be kidding me—the revisionist history  on  this one  just reeks  of 20/20 hindsight. I mean, everyone was applauding  the choice  at the time  it was made—calling it a genius move  and  whatnot, saying he couldn't have picked a better selection.

I still can't see  any realistic candidate  who'd be doing a markedly better job  as VP so far—it's such a politically thankless task.

if Trump lost, he’d retire, because he didn’t like the actual job it required ...

Equally ridiculous argument imo, even  at the time.

If Trump didn't run again, would Biden ?

Of course, he'd find  his new MAGA cudgel  sooner than  he could say "malarkey".

This was a very strange "universal expectation", because starting from the very day Biden announced his bid all the way  back in 2020, he was crystal-clear that he was running to be a two-term President.

This, all the way.

serious pundits and election followers always expected him to run again. It's the bomb-throwers looking for clicks have been predicting that he would quit/resign since the day he entered the race.

Exactly.

Whitmer is incredibly overrated. She’s gonna be the Ron DeSantis of 2028.

Seconded. And it'll be  even worse  for her, because the 2028 Dem primary  is going to be a free-for-all food fight, not the empty field  the GOP has  this year  due to  the elephant  taking up  all the oxygen  in  the room.

Let’s dispel with this fiction that Newsom would somehow be able to make a strong GE candidate.

Fully agreed.

Americans are tired of the gerontocracy, but I expect that to end in 2028

You meant to say "after Trump", right?

In all seriousness, why  do you  think so? It's only going to get  worse imo.

There is finally a talented crop of relatively young rising stars in the Democratic Party

The 2028 primary will be Sanders vs Biden vs Warren vs Bloomberg vs Feinstein vs Pelosi vs Hoyer vs Clyburn.

"Old white guy" is code for someone who has been in DC for a while.

The only thing  it's "code" for  is "I hold  racist views  and  I want  everyone  here  to know  about it."

women and Black voters (and, of course, Black women) would be  in  open revolt  if Kamala was  passed over  in favour of  somebody else.

And  they would, as  they rightfully should.

She's tied with RFK Jr. here

Please. 99% of her potential supporters  are  being  gobbled up  by Biden  right now, whereas a negative number  of RFK Jr.'s are.

If he were 20 years younger, he would be in cruise control.

Wishful thinking—the Republicans  would just find  some other  topic  to  gripe on  about  instead.

My top tier is Haley, Christie, Burgum. I guess I like governors? Maybe because they're a bit more pragmatic -- very right-wing ideology ain't quite my cup of tea.

Ah yes! Nikki Haley, ever the aisle-crossing deal-cutter.

[JA]

I think Democrats aren’t simply tired of Biden, they’re tired of a certain kind of politics and ideology that has dominated the party since at least Bill Clinton. It’s run its course, yet it became so dominant in the party’s infrastructure and leadership that, now that it’s exhausted, there’s no alternative available because it so thoroughly monopolized power.

Something similar happened in the GOP, but unfortunately the party was primed for and seized by an authoritarian.

[ηєω ƒяσηтιєя]

I think Democrats aren’t simply tired of Biden, they’re tired of a certain kind of politics and ideology that has dominated the party since at least Bill Clinton. It’s run its course, yet it became so dominant in the party’s infrastructure and leadership that, now that it’s exhausted, there’s no alternative available because it so thoroughly monopolized power.

Something similar happened in the GOP, but unfortunately the party was primed for and seized by an authoritarian.

Biden has been the most progressive president, policy-wise, since LBJ. So your "point" is false, lol.

Biden is old. That's his biggest detraction.

[JA]

I think Democrats aren’t simply tired of Biden, they’re tired of a certain kind of politics and ideology that has dominated the party since at least Bill Clinton. It’s run its course, yet it became so dominant in the party’s infrastructure and leadership that, now that it’s exhausted, there’s no alternative available because it so thoroughly monopolized power.

Something similar happened in the GOP, but unfortunately the party was primed for and seized by an authoritarian.

Biden has been the most progressive president, policy-wise, since LBJ. So your "point" is false, lol.

Biden is old. That's his biggest detraction.

No, my point is not “false, lol.” Who decides what constitutes “the most progressive president, policy-wise, since LBJ?” And who said that that version of progressivism is what most people want or I was even referring to?

Biden is old and that’s a big negative. I wouldn’t say that’s his biggest negative, though

[ηєω ƒяσηтιєя]

No, my point is not “false, lol.” Who decides what constitutes “the most progressive president, policy-wise, since LBJ?” And who said that that version of progressivism is what most people want or I was even referring to?

So you were saying a bunch of nothing. Cool, thanks for letting me know!

[BlueSwan]

This is what happens when your entire party apparatus has been controlled by the Clintons and Obama.

I don't think that has anything to do with it. It is simply how it turned out.

In 2020 we had a ton of qualified people running, but we couldn't coalesce around a single person during the run-up to the primaries, so Biden won by default because people were scared that Bernie would run away with the nomination and Biden seemed like the best shot to take Bernie down.

Had Biden not chosen an VP who turned out to be very unpopular, he probably wouldn't have been able to resist calls for him to not run for reelection. But he did, and since people don't want Kamala, the party isn't really putting enough pressure on Biden to not run again.

Had Kamala been popular, I really don't think Biden would have been running for reelection. Hell, if there even was a clear cut heir apparent, I don't think Biden would run. But there isn't, hence Biden is running.

But I am definitely not ruling out something happening over the next few months that shakes things up. I don't think Biden would survive a proper Mitch moment, for instance. I don't think he would survive a proper health scare either. I would not be shocked if we were suddenly faced with a Kamala vs Gavin primary.

[Talk Elections Oracle]

Biden won by default, because people were scared that Bernie would run away with the nomination, and Biden seemed like the best shot to take Bernie down.

After coming in fourth in IA, fifth in NH, and losing NV by twenty-something percent, Biden  seemed like "the best shot" to take Sanders down? Let's get real here.

No, Biden never won "by default".

He actually ran a strong campaign  and  managed to convince  voters in SC  that  he was  the right choice  to be trusted  with  the nation  at large, though  the pandemic  certainly helped guide  wary voters  to  the safe choice  in  that primary  as well.

Remember that  Bernie was running neck-and-neck to take  the lead  in SC  at  one point, before  Biden  pulled away  from  the rest of  the pack.

Voters  in SC and (to a lesser extent) Super Tuesday  backed Biden in spite of the fact that  he was  the riskiest choice  for  those  who wanted to "stop Bernie" at  all costs, not because he was "the safe pick".

The reason  as to  why  SC primary voters  selected Biden  wasn't  because  they wanted to "stop Bernie"—in fact, apart from  Biden himself, Sanders had  the highest  positive-to-negative  ratio  of opinions  in terms of  the way  they viewed him. That  doesn't sound like  someone who's hated  amongst  the primary electorate  to me.

if we were suddenly faced with a primary that pitted Kamala against Gavin ...

... they'd both  drop out  before October, due to  failing to break 1% in  the polling averages  and thus  missing  the debate stages  altogether.

[LabourJersey]

This is what happens when your entire party apparatus has been controlled by the Clintons and Obama.

I don't think that has anything to do with it. It is simply how it turned out.

In 2020 we had a ton of qualified people running, but we couldn't coalesce around a single person during the run-up to the primaries, so Biden won by default because people were scared that Bernie would run away with the nomination and Biden seemed like the best shot to take Bernie down.

Had Biden not chosen an VP who turned out to be very unpopular, he probably wouldn't have been able to resist calls for him to not run for reelection. But he did, and since people don't want Kamala, the party isn't really putting enough pressure on Biden to not run again.

Had Kamala been popular, I really don't think Biden would have been running for reelection. Hell, if there even was a clear cut heir apparent, I don't think Biden would run. But there isn't, hence Biden is running.

But I am definitely not ruling out something happening over the next few months that shakes things up. I don't think Biden would survive a proper Mitch moment, for instance. I don't think he would survive a proper health scare either. I would not be shocked if we were suddenly faced with a Kamala vs Gavin primary.

I've wondered this too, as well.

It doesn't help that there's been rumors that most of Biden's team just plain doesn't like Harris at all.

[Don't Be A Carrot Vote For Garrett]

There's definitely a perception among most people outside of the party activist bubble that Biden is a do-nothing President (at best) and an incompetent senile fool (at worst), regardless of where the truth actually lies. Perceptions matter a hell of a lot more than the facts on the ground, and Democrats need to come to terms with this fact.

But shouldn’t these voters still come home to him?

Some of them will because of Trump, yes.
But there's definitely also a lot of people who are disillusioned enough with Biden's uninspired and 'boring' image (particularly young voters) that they may just stay home or vote 3rd party in 2024, even against Trump. Regardless of how true such a paradigm actually is, a lot of young voters (especially young leftists) see establishment liberals and Republicans as being nothing but two sides of the same corporatist coin.

American politics is something that's very easy to get disillusioned about in the modern day, and you're not going to win many favors by trying to explain Modern Monetary Theory to someone who's complaining about their leaky roof.

I will now accept my accolades, by the way.