Trump impeachment inquiry could be pivotal in Warren-Biden primary fight

[brooklynite]

NBC News

WASHINGTON — Elizabeth Warren looks to be the primary beneficiary of President Donald Trump's Ukraine scandal and the House impeachment inquiry into it, but Joe Biden's allies think there's an opportunity for him to rally voters — especially if he gets more aggressive in going after Trump.

That friction goes to the heart of Biden's "electability" argument and could make the next several weeks decisive in the race for the Democratic nomination to take on Trump next November.

It could be that Trump's focus on Biden persuades Democrats that the former vice president is the toughest candidate, or it could be that primary voters fear Trump's allegations against Biden would weaken him in a general election, regardless of the truth.

Warren's allies are careful in how they frame the Ukraine narrative as helpful to her — obviously sensitive to Biden's popularity in the party, their own candidate's aversion to attacking competitors and Democrats' anger with Trump for trying to enlist a foreign government's help in dragging a political opponent's name through the mud.

[BlueMTexpat]

1. Based on her campaign history so far,

Elizabeth will NOT use this issue against Biden in any way. I have full confidence in that.

IMO, it would also be a losing tactic.

[beachbumbob]

3. I guess I have missed warrens statement of support of Joe with this ukraine mess

[Dr Hobbitstein]

11. I wasn't aware candidates were required to defend the others

from RW attacks.

[beachbumbob]

16. We all have our own definition of character I guess.

[Dr Hobbitstein]

18. I guess so.

She has no obligation to defend him. Especially when it’s made up bullshit.

[Dem4Life1102]

20. Yes she does

It is a matter of character. You either stand up for the truth or ignore lies because it gives you a political advantage.

[Dr Hobbitstein]

22. Yeah, ok.

Liz Warren is a bad person because Trump said bad things about Biden.

[Dem4Life1102]

23. Never said she was a bad person

But she does have a responsibility to stand up for the truth.

[Dr Hobbitstein]

24. She doesn't have an obligation to go out of her way to protect Biden from bully Trump.

She has enough to deal with WRT to his bullying.

If the new bar for outrage is when a candidate doesn’t defend another against Trump’s attacks, then said bar is set WAY too low.

Biden is a big boy. He can take care of himself.

[Dr Hobbitstein]

27. Your concern is noted. nt

[Dem4Life1102]

29. Not my concern

It is a test of character.

[Dr Hobbitstein]

30. Keep fucking that chicken.

[Thekaspervote]

31. This is true yet the other candidates agree an attack on one is an attack on all

[DrFunkenstein]

35. Remember When Biden Defended Warren Against "Pocahontas"?

Me, either.

[Dr Hobbitstein]

36. Ok.

[BlueMTexpat]

17. I must have

missed her criticism.

Did Biden step up to defend her against DNC donors who said they would vote for Trump if she were the Dem candidate?

Probably not and she wouldn't expect him to. She's a big girl and can fight her own battles. I expect that Biden can too.

[Thekaspervote]

32. One is a national security threat, the other is a campaign statement...duh!!

[BlueMTexpat]

37. Thanks so much for your kind

"explanation," which still doesn't quite explain why an omission by Warren - if that is the case -is necessarily a national security threat.

Hyperbole perhaps?

[Moostache]

2. One of the reasons that I an pro-Warren (after Pete) is her primary approach...

She does not engage in attacks on fellow Democrats to score cheap points. She articulates her plans and shows real empathy to the voters she wants to represent.

This Ukraine fiasco should be kept out of the primaries as an "issue" unless it is used to point out the seriousness of the damage Trump continues to do every day he remains in office.

[hlthe2b]

4. I think she will be (and better be) cautious about using this in any way.

I like her and could readily support her, though I remain uncommitted, but this would cinch an opposition vote from me. Same for any of the other candidates.

They need to stand firm on supporting the truth against the Trump attempts to "Hillary" Biden. If they don't, it will be them next.

[Vogon_Glory]

5. I would definitely vote for Red Earth Daughter IF

Orange Julius is forced out or incapacitated. In the meantime, I’m leaning towards Joe Biden.

[jcgoldie]

6. Obviously Warren is not going to "use this against" Biden

That would be a very bad choice and completely out of character.

From a pragmatic perspective, however, it could certainly help her if boogeyman Trump were weakened severely or (crosses fingers) removed because Biden's central argument from the start has basically been "Trump is an existential threat to America and I have the best chance to beat him." If that boogeyman isn't there or is less scary then Joe's perceived electability advantage which I've read many make reference to here on DU and in the media sort of goes away and at least some of those people may begin to look at other ways to compare the candidates.

[LincolnRossiter]

8. Meh. I still think with enough light shone on both candidates more voters would like Joe than Warren

Her ideas aren't as popular in many circles as her supporters seem to think.

[jcgoldie]

9. In many circles they are

Here's just one example buried in 538 synopsis of new polling on impeachment:

The Quinnipiac poll featured in the “Poll of the week” section above also found that Democrats are split on the best way to deal with the health care system. Forty-four percent said it’s better to keep the private health insurance system and build on Obamacare, while 47 percent said they prefer to replace the current system with “Medicare for All.”

https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/what-the-first-few-post-ukraine-polls-say-about-impeachment/

[LincolnRossiter]

10. I meant voters in total. Many Warren supporters seem oblivious to the fact that the ultimate goal is

to win a general election--not just a nomination.

[jcgoldie]

14. Oh I see

It seems you have an interesting concept of a "fact". Your definition seems to incorporate many assumptions.

Have a nice day.

[LincolnRossiter]

15. So the goal isn't to win a general election? I would think that's as close to fact as conjecture can

get, but maybe that really isn't Warren's goal. I'll keep that in mind.

Happy Friday to you, too.

[Thekaspervote]

33. This!

[beastie boy]

7. Pure speculation.

Basically, the article itself tells us as much. The impeachment inquiry could be pivotal, or it could be not pivotal. It may benefit Warren, or it may benefit Biden. It may undermine Biden's electability or it may reinforce his electability. Biden might be the target of Trump's attacks in the Generals, or Warren might be the target of Trump's attacks in the Generals.

Depending on where the wind blows.

[pangaia]

12. It would really impress me, and perhaps others, if Warren came out and

laid into trump and repubs about this crap about Biden; told them to shove it and that Biden and his son are honorable men...

She COULD expand on that to the point that THIS is what trump does all the time-- anybody who he sees as getting in his way, or even speaks poorly about him-- he threatens, calls silly names, lies about, bullies... he's just a big cowardly baby -- who also happens to me a mortal threat to America, world democracy, and the planet...

[BeyondGeography]

13. Warren is where she is exactly because she hasn't made Trump the main issue

She says at every campaign stop that something had to be seriously wrong in the first place for a country to elect Donald Trump President. Then she identifies what has been wrong for a long time (corruption, wealth inequality, broken democracy) and how she would fix it. She won't change; that's what she believes and it's resonating.

[Gothmog]

19. Desperate Donald Trump knows that Joe can beat him

Link to tweet

[Drunken Irishman]

21. The premise to start this article is woefully premature...

If they're pointing to any additional polls to support that narrative, they either haven't done their research or don't know how polling works. This story just blew up a few days ago - the polling that has been released recently as more favorable to Warren wouldn't even have a good chunk of this story's impact cooked into the results.

The reality is that we do not know how much impact this will have on the race - or who it will benefit. It's possible the next round of polls show Biden leading again. Then we may have our answer.

[DrFunkenstein]

28. I think the answer will come in February, not the next round of polls

I know it doesn't feel like it, but the contests are still months away.

[Thekaspervote]

34. Thx for posting!!

[DrFunkenstein]

26. Warren Gave An Incredible Anti-Corruption Speech in NYC

Warren has made destroying the tools of corruption - lobbying guidelines, revolving doors, etc. - a central part of her campaign. Coming against Trump, the contrast between the two could not be clearer.

Take a moment to look at her anti-corruption plans and feel free to respond that you were less than super impressed.

https://medium.com/@teamwarren/my-plan-to-end-washington-corruption-554c7f01aaa5

To quote Bruce Springsteen: She's the one!

[Politicub]

38. At every turn, Biden is being exonerated when the Ukraine story comes up

It's because it's a non-story. There's nothing to Biden and Ukraine of note. I think the impeachment lifts all boats for democrats who demand a reckoning for Trump's crimes.

Of course, right wing media is making a lot of noise about nothing. Their bubble is too insane for logic to penetrate it. And Bill Maher is being a disingenuous asshole. But fuck him. And don't even get me started on Gabbard.