I love Joe Biden.

[Claritie Pixie]

As a human being, as a man who has lived his life doing what he believes is for the good of the country.

However - I am not convinced he is the one to lead us into a better future. I am not convinced he will be able to give non participatory Americans a compelling reason to vote for him in the general election.

Let's not forget he's run for the presidential nomination twice before, and lost.

Is he a winner? Is he who we can confidently count on to take on the orange menace and change the trajectory we find ourselves on as a country?

I am not convinced. I'm not sure what it will take to get me there.

Maybe Biden supporters here can help me understand why he would be our best choice.

That said, I will definitely vote for him if he's our nominee.

[still_one]

1. LOL. Another I love Biden thread, BUT....................................

With all this love going around, I am not sure how much more love he can take

[Claritie Pixie]

3. I appreciate the snarky reply.

Thank you for your empty contribution.

[Cha]

15. lol.. I know, right.. I was waiting for the ....

BUT!.. "..he's already lost two times.." SO WHAT, I say!!!!! That was BEFORE he's had the experience of being a Successful Vice President of the United States of America.

Biden can handle!

[still_one]

18. The facts regarding about how "Biden already lost two times". In 1988 and 2008

I wouldn't even characterize those as runs, because he withdrew before those campaigns even got off the ground. However, it gives a better negative slant on it if one characterizes it as "he lost two times", when in fact, it really never got started.

It is more than obvious that the OP, in spite of the fact, "loves Biden", really does not want Biden, and asks the question "convince me why I should want him?

If the OP wants to know where Biden stands on the issues, all they need to do is go to Biden's web page.

They can also view various sources on the internet on where Biden stands on the issues.

[Garrett78]

24. He dropped out in 1988 due to scandal and got trounced in Iowa in 2008.

Biden has a long history of making offensive statements. Name recognition and Obama's coattails can only carry him so far. Eventually his past and his outdated notions will catch up with him.

[still_one]

25. Really? See ya around in March and wel'l see how that prediction works out for you

[emmaverybo]

27. Riding on his own successful tenure as Obama's VP.

Snip—————-
Joe Biden: The Most Influential Vice President in History?
MICHAEL HIRSH
DEC 31, 2012

From the fiscal cliff to gun control to Afghanistan, Scranton's favorite son has transformed himself from affable gaffer to West Wing powerhouse.

Barack Obama just can't get enough out of Joe Biden these days. And anybody who's been following Biden's steady ascent in stature over the last several years -- from gaffe-happy presidential contender to one of the most powerful vice presidents in U.S. history -- couldn't be less surprised

Perhaps the only surprise at all is that, in contrast to a year ago, it took Biden quite this long to become the president's point man on the latest round of fiscal talks. The exact reason for the delay is not clear. Perhaps it is that, only a week and a half ago, Obama had called on his vice president to lead a commission to expedite recommendations on a truly serious national issue, gun violence (as opposed to the present trumped-up issue, fiscal reform, which requires only the smidgeon of political courage necessary to depart from ideological rigidities). Maybe Obama wanted to keep his veep's powder dry for that.

Or maybe it is just that, in the awkward pattern of political dance partnerships that have emerged over the last couple of years, whenever Barack Obama and Speaker John Boehner fail to execute -- as they did after the "Plan B" debacle -- it's Biden and his old Senate colleague, Mitch McConnell, who step into the spotlight. The Biden-McConnell duo didn't cut it during last year's cliffhanger over the debt limit, of course. But in a sign of just how important a figure the vice president has become in Washington, Biden's absence until now has been one reason that Republicans doubted Obama's seriousness about cutting a deal, my colleague Chris Frates reported last week.

Full article:

https:/www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2012/12/joe-biden-the-most-influential-vice-president-in-history/266729/

[Hoyt]

2. My problem, I'm not convinced some of the other candidates can win in GE,

be it trump or GOPers decide to look for a moderate Republican to run, assuming they actually exist.

I hope electability becomes clearer when my primary comes in March 2020.

[Claritie Pixie]

4. I hope so too.

Warren is my choice right now but that could change. It's not just about beating the GOP candidate but also when in office, being able to implement and effectively go up against the GOP.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

5. Biden has much more support from black voters than the others do.

And we absolutely need black voters to turn out in droves this time, and this time they certainly will - especially black women. None of the other candidates attract that demographic the way Biden does. He also polls very well among older voters, who vote far more reliably than young voters (who love rallies and slogans and internet memes but often can't be bothered to actually get out and vote). Biden is also popular in the industrial swing states, which we need very much. He was Obama's vice president - and Obama is still enormously popular.

[Claritie Pixie]

8. Thank you. All good points.

If Joe is the nominee, do you think he'll be able to get independents and even disgruntled republicans?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

9. I think so.

His positions are less extreme and more realistic than some of the others' and might be more acceptable to the less ideologically-driven voters.

[Garrett78]

20. Black folks will determine who our nominee will be. The big question regarding IA and NH is not...

...who will win but will Biden lose? Because if he does, his support in South Carolina could collapse. And then Super Tuesday could go very poorly for him.

Right now, Biden benefits from there being a large field, as most aren't going to try distinguishing between 20 people they've never heard of. Name recognition and Obama's coattails might not be enough come next year. After all, there are reasons why Biden never came close to winning the nomination in his previous attempts. Over time, more and more people will be reminded of why.

[EveHammond13]

6. what does the polling show

[jcgoldie]

7. The polling shows that about 27% of Democrats nationally support Joe Biden at this time.

https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2020/president/us/2020_democratic_presidential_nomination-6730.html

[Claritie Pixie]

12. Thank you.

[JI7]

10. why not just support who you want to support ? why do you want people

to convince you to support someone you don't want ?

[Claritie Pixie]

11. I'm trying to understand those who are enthusiastic about Biden.

I never said I don't want him. When he becomes the nominee, if he does, I want to be just as enthusiastic.

Asking for the point of view of others is a good thing.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

14. My enthusiasm for him or any other candidate will be based primarily

on whether I believe they can beat Trump by a margin so wide that the GOP can't win by cheating. I am very enthusiastic about beating Trump; the policy differences don't really matter much to me by comparison.

[RelativelyJones]

26. +1000

[Desert grandma]

13. Joe is the only candidate

that can take Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan IMHO. The Orange Buffoon managed to squeak out a victory in those state which gave him the EC win and the Presidency. Joe is very popular in those states (lived in Scranton, PA) and it is those 3 states we must win to get the White House. We must not lose sight of the electoral map. Those states were Blue before the Liar in Chief. In addition Joe is very popular among African American women, and they are a very reliable voting block. That's why I will vote for him. I think he is the only candidate that can actually win against the Liar in Chief. Getting rid of the Orange Squatter in the White House is all I care about in this next election.

[Gothmog]

17. Joe will also put Texas into play

[Gothmog]

16. I just met Joe Biden in person at a fundraiser and I disagree

I just got home from a fundraiser. Joe was great. I am convinced that he is the best person to beat trump. Joe spoke for 30 minutes and I was truly impressed.

I had three floor signs from the Democratic National Convention that we held up during his speech. Joe signed all three and thanked me for attending. I really like Biden which is why I donated to him and attended this event.

I am convinced that Joe is the best person to beat trump

[UniteFightBack]

23. I think you are right. nt

[honest.abe]

19. Electability.

If his numbers against Trump continue to stay at the level they are now he has to be our nominee.

[Garrett78]

21. Historically, hypothetical match-up polls are meaningless at this juncture.

There was no President Dukakis.

[honest.abe]

29. I wouldn't say meaningless.

Sure there is a long way to go and alot of ups and downs until election day, which is why i ssid "If his numbers against Trump continue....". And beating Trump is really all we should care about at this point and at this point Biden looks like our best shot at doing that

[Capt. America]

22. Agreed. He is a nice guy, but he's lost his fastball. I want new leadership and new ideas.

[Indykatie]

28. The Elephant in the Room

I share a similar concern about Warren. Perhaps Warren and Harris Supporters Can Help Me Understand Why We Think We Can Elect a Woman in 2020 when we couldn't elect the most qualified woman candidate ever in 2016? Regarding Biden, I see him as our best choice because he's going to have more cross over appeal than any of the other candidates. Like it or not POTUS elections are usually won by a small sliver of voters in the middle who aren't extreme partisans. There seems to be some assumption that the combination of Warren voters + Bernie voters will equal a clear majority. The data doesn't support that since Biden is the 2nd choice in polling for Bernie voters and splits Warren's voters 21% to 24% for Bernie. Finally, if Dem voters still need a compelling reason to get their asses to the polls in 2020 Trump should meet that need.

[cwydro]

30. Another "we can't elect a woman" post.

[Chemisse]

31. Agree. He is a sweetie. We just don't have the 'perfect' candidate, or even close to it.

I don't know who to vote for it the choice is between him and Warren.