I think Trump and the Republicans want to run against Biden

[StarfishSaver]

They think he's got baggage they can exploit, he's easily rattled, too "old-school" and would be easier to beat than some of the other less-predictable candidates.

I think they're wrong - Biden would be a much stronger candidate than they assume. And, as we've seen, it's a serious mistake to hope and pray for a particular candidate in certainty that they would be easier to beat. That's one of the reasons we have Trump as many Democrats thought it would be great to have him as the Republican nominee and didn't take him seriously as an opponent until it was much too late. Trump is likely seriously underestimating Biden.

But, that said, by all indications, Trump and his people are really hoping that they'll end up going against Biden because they think Trump can eat his lunch.

[highplainsdem]

1. Well, they're all insane if they want to run against the Democratic candidate beating Trump by the

widest margins in almost all the polling of head-to=head matchups done to date.

I don't for a second believe they want to run against Biden. They're praying the less successful Democratic candidates will take him down, or at the very least provide them with endless quotes, sound bites and video clips to use against him.

[thesquanderer]

7. I think the OP could be right. Polls this far out don't mean a lot,

especially when some candidates don't even have comparable name recognition. If you forget the polls and just imagine the matchups, I could see where maybe the Trump campaign could see Biden as potentially easier to beat than some of the other candidates.

[Hortensis]

40. Actually, a candidate who starts well out front and maintains

a lead for a significant period usually becomes the nominee. CHECK and CHECK for Biden for both points)

And note that no one else gets even one check, not good.

But it could change. It could also just swing around for a while and then stabilize.

[stonecutter357]

2. let's go Joe !

[democratisphere]

3. Everyone on Earth has some kind of baggage, real or made up by others.

Joe Biden will move forward and defeat drumpf regardless of what anybody says or does.

[George II]

4. Back in 2008, after looking at all the candidates (not as many as this year).....

I felt that Barack Obama was the most qualified Democrat to undo the bush mess and restore our standing in the world. I thought that even though early in the primary season I supported Hillary Clinton.

I felt the same way about Hillary Clinton in 2016 - she was the most qualified candidate to be President and continue the work that Obama started.

This (next) year I feel that Biden, despite some very minor flaws and not 100% agreement on all of his policies, is the best qualified candidate to do exactly what Obama did - undo the trump mess and restore our standing in the world.

Maybe more than even in 2008 we need someone who is experienced enough to can immediately step in and do the job.

This is looking forward too far, maybe, but I'd like to see him run with a female VP candidate, and after four years "turn it over" to whomever that VP is.

[world wide wally]

21. That's the winning ticket right there.

[jcgoldie]

23. the "turn it over" in 4 years to someone younger premise is baloney

It will never happen. It would be foolish for Democrats to give up the huge and very well documented advantage of incumbency. The fact that Biden supporters continue to perpetuate this nonsensical premise says something about how they view their own candidate.

[Hortensis]

38. :) I normally agree with George, but not in that particular notion.

Speaking of nonsensical premises, though, I have no choice but to disagree that "Biden supporters" keep saying they want a one-term Biden presidency. No.

As for StarfishSaver's nonsensical premise, no one believes that. Except perhaps those who believe wishing on stars erases reality.

[Downtown Hound]

5. I actually think they're terrified of Biden

Biden's baggage is minimal compared to Trump. Anything they try and pin on him can be turned around on Trump times 100. And they can't exploit sexism like they did with Hillary or racism like they did with Obama.

Biden is leading Trump by double digits in many head to head match up polls. No matter what Trump says or how much he likes to bluster, I guarantee you that's making them very nervous.

[empedocles]

13. trump often says and plays the opposite of what he fears. He fears Biden the most here.

[snowybirdie]

6. Looks like

the anti Biden trend is working! Lots pile on more.......

[BannonsLiver]

25. The trend is still there but the quality of the trolling is not there.

The OP didn’t put a lot of heart or imagination into their effort.

[ancianita]

8. Voters will look on the whole of Biden's governance, compare that to Trump's and vote Biden.

On Biden's worst exchange with Trump.

I believe Biden when he says he won't let the re-election of Trump happen.

Trump has given EVERY Democratic candidate all the ammunition they need to shoot him down with.

[The Mouth]

12. We had all the ammo we needed last time, too

having it, and using it are two different things

[ancianita]

15. That's not true and you know it.

[The Mouth]

34. Well, OK then....

Maybe not *quite*as much as we have *this* time, but it was pretty bloody obvious that Trump was/is corrupt, incompetent, probably racist (or at least comfortable with same), and utterly dishonest- and there was plenty of concrete documentation for all of those.

It was quite well known in 2016 that he was an adulterer, lied even when he didn't have to just to keep in practice, stiffed people who owed him money, and such a bad CEO that he even lost money running a casino.

That is, or *should have been* plenty of negative ammo 3 years ago.

Ammo isn't the issue, IMHO, it's attacking effectively, which means two things:

-getting out the people who will vote for our person
-convincing the people who voted for him last time to not do so.

As you point out, what we need, and have to have, is a candidate who will *USE* the ammo.

[qazplm135]

9. I don't think Trump wants to run against anyone

except maybe Sanders because he thinks he can run on the scary socialist vibe there.

I think he thinks, rightly or wrongly, that it's going to be Biden, so that's who he is going after.

The moment he thinks, rightly or wrongly, that it's going to be someone else, he would go after that person the same.

He's not a man with a plan...he just...does...things.

[Atticus]

10. Nah, Barack Obama is still living rent-free in what passes for Trump's mind. Every smear of Joe

is a "two-fer": it insults Biden AND the black guy who 1.) chose Joe for VP, AND, 2.) publicly mocked Trump at that WH correspondents dinner.

[True Dough]

19. I think you're absolutely right about that

Good post!

[Auggie]

11. I've switched from Joe Biden to Undecided ...

not that anyone at DU would give a damn. Maybe I'll come back. If he's the Dem candidate of course I'll vote for him. I wonder how many millennials will? Independents? Fringe voters? Those who have given up hope? These are the people who will help beat Trump.

[True Dough]

17. You know I give a damn, Auggie

Warren, Harris and Buttigieg are all viable candidates worthy of consideration, IMO.

[Auggie]

22. Thanks True Dough

That means a lot. Really.

I'm disappointed in Biden's rhetoric. The speech he gave a few day ago, while being lauded among his supporters here, left me with a bad taste. I don't see him exciting millennials. Maybe moderate Republicans sick of Trump, but not millennials. It would be disasterous if they sat out or voted in protest again.

Onward!

[True Dough]

24. Just be sure to wear your flak jacket if you plan to offer much in the way of Biden criticism

His supporters swarm quickly and some will insinuate that you're a traitor for not pledging allegiance to Uncle Joe (did I write Uncle Joe? I'm going to hell now, Auggie).

[Auggie]

29. Uncle Joe! Reminds me of Petticoat Junction!

And that should tell you something about my age.



"And there's Uncle Joe, he's a-movin' kind of slow ..."

[True Dough]

30. I'll tell you what

you might be reaching "old timer" status but I respect the fact that you're concerned about millennial voters. I think you're right, Biden won't resonate with many in the younger age demographic.

[LincolnRossiter]

14. Oooooor...they rightfully see Biden as the greatest threat and want to try to "define" him early...

But good luck pulling that hat trick on a guy with a 40 year record.

[ismnotwasm]

16. You might be right. Familiar ground for him.

Biden knows what he’s doing though.

[peggysue2]

18. My answer to the Trumpsters

Be careful what you wish for. If you recall, Republicans were all in for Barack Obama as the Democratic nominee because they didn't think he had a shot in hell. Rush Limbaugh and his Operation Chaos anyone?

So, keep on dreaming, Trumpsters. 2008 was a rout.

[world wide wally]

20. Trump couldn't eat the lunch his mommy packed for him without a soppy straw.

Biden also brings a voice of authority along with his experience as VP and Senator.
He's a proven survivor.

[BannonsLiver]

26. What a silly OP.

[StarfishSaver]

31. Thanks for the kick.

[SCantiGOP]

32. really sounds like bannonsliver didn't read the OP

before attacking it

[secondwind]

27. Biden is a superb debater, let Trump try and beat him in a debate... ha!

[The Mouth]

36. The problem is that Hillary also whipped him solidly in every debate.

It wasn't even close. She took him apart and cut him into shreds; and like some villain from a bad horror flick he didn't die then and there. Beating Trump in a debate is like beating a pigeon playing chess; it just knocks the pieces over, shits all over the board and then struts around like it won.

[andym]

28. No, historically the GOP likes to run against anyone that is not a traditional mainstream leader

That has been there modus operandi since at least Nixon, who helped McGovern to win the Democratic nomination because he thought McGovern could be marginalized as out of touch with the mainstream of America, unlike Muskie. Gore, Dukakis, and Kerry lost because they were painted as elitists by the GOP. Dukakis was brought down by Lee Atwater's Willie Horton ads. Biden would be stronger than those who lost because he has the touch of the common man. The GOP won't be able to paint him as an extremist, or an elitist. His gaffes will actually help him with many citizens.

The further our candidate is from a traditional mainstream leader, the better the GOP will like him/her as an opponent.

That said, who the GOP would prefer as our candidate, really should be none of our concern. Democrats need to select a candidate who will win, heal the nation, AND change the nation's view as much as they can on social issues and on the positive role of government.

[MoonRiver]

33. I'll be 100% behind whoever wins the primary!

Biden isn't my first choice, but if he's the nominee, Katy bar the door while I help him defeat the POS from hell.

[Fiendish Thingy]

35. I think they are terrified of the alternatives to Biden

Especially Warren or Harris

[ucrdem]

37. Biden has superb Teflon, the others don't.

If Harris coudn't take him out -- the most unkindest cut, so to speak -- Trump won't be able to either. And he's well aware of that fact.

[Gothmog]

39. I think that Joe Biden is the best candidate to run against trump