Biden exudes a very real authenticity that I do find appealing.
However, I've never supported him for President.
As I've expressed here before I fear nominating Biden, like Hillary Clinton, will not inspire the record youth vote we desperately need in 2020 to not only defeat Trump and the GOP Senators, but also to help flip critical statehouses in advance of 2021 redistricting. We must not make the same mistake as 2010!
So it was much to my dismay, that I find myself thinking Biden held serve and that’s a win for the leader.
I honestly don't know what the candidates and their strategists were thinking spending so much time attacking Obama's legacy in order to hit at Joe Biden.
It was bad enough to hear Warren and Sanders play into the GOP narrative that Obamacare failed versus attacking Trump and Mitch for sabotaging it. The GOP are being allowed to skate. The poor framing boggles my mind.
Last night the Obama pile-on was so bad, my nephew texted me Democrats sounded like some of the GOP attack ads he'd seen in North Carolina. Hell hath frozen over as I agree with Joe Scarborough, it's stupid to go after Obama when they should be pounding Trump and his disastrous policies instead.
Furthermore, for those like me, who don't want Joe to win the primary, I fear attacking Obama's legacy only plays right into Biden's strategy. It helps Biden play the "I'm the only one who has Barack's back and I'm his #1 defender" card for all its worth. And, his strong defense is worth a lot to the AA community who feel very protective of Obama and his legacy. Especially after all the smears and attacks from the right wing attack machine.
Let's at least try to remember, folks, that Biden's current high poll numbers are largely due to his high support from African Americans.
Despite Biden suffering, what I spotted as 4 possible incidents of cognitive impairment, he survived unscathed last night.
Biden did show some flashes of his old self, the one who destroyed Rudy Guiliani with the memorable, "a noun, a very and 911," in his exchange with Gillibrand.
“I don’t know what’s happened except that you’re now running for president."
That was a devastating counter-attack because it played into the narrative about Gillibrand being a calculating, opportunitist. It doesn't matter if it's true or not, any attack that feeds that narrative kills her.
Harris wasn't on her A game last night. She botched the opportunity to toss Biden's words back in his face over his Hyde Amendment flip flopping with a surprisingly halting delivery and confusing word salad. Biden escaped her left hook there.
If Harris or any of the other candidates want to beat Biden, I suggest flipping the script on him and use Obama against him.
For example, I was surprised not a single candidate pointed out Obama had been smart enough to oppose the Iraq War while Joe was fooled by GWB's lies. When Biden tries to rebut with his usual Obama trusted me to be his VP, there's the opening to shoot back thank goodness Barack Obama ignored your advice “Mr. President, my suggestion is don’t go" when debating the Bin Laden raid. Nail Biden with his own account of those final deliberations. Biden has a pretty lousy record on major foreign policy decisions and there is real daylight between him and Obama to exploit.
When Biden attacked Harris' new Medicare for All proposal, she should have shot back, Barack Obama called M4A a "new, good idea" last fall, I agree with him versus you, Joe. She should have then added and the DHHS Secretary Obama trusted to implement Obamacare just endorsed my M4A plan.
Dems need to remind Democratic voters, that Biden is not and never has been Barack Obama. Nor is he Obama's spokesperson. Contrary to the constant impression Joe Biden gives that Obama all but endorsed him, Barack has met and advised several candidates. Further, he's recommended a few different candidates to his 2008/2012 staffers.
Castro's team choreographed their attack on Biden over supporting Obama's deportation policy so Joe was well-prepared with the counter-punch. I feel Castro missed a real opportunity for an emotional admission of his own failures but chose a too glib "one of us learned lessons from the past" rehearsed line instead.
Someone on twitter called Beto a poor Barack wannabe. For me, that's been Booker. Sorry, Cory, Barack delivered this devastating attack far more successfully in 2008 when he went after Hillary for selectively riding Bill Clinton's legacy:
"You can’t have it both way. You invoke President Obama more than anyone in this campaign. You can’t do it when it’s convenient and then dodge it when it’s not.”
Barack left Hillary sputtering. Joe brushed off Booker with a smile.
Yang delivered the most memorable and authentic closing I've ever heard. The press did help elect a reality TV star.
But I fear Biden's Democratic opponents are going to hand him the nomination if they don’t learn from Wednesday’s mistakes.
JMO. Biden held serve. That's a win.