I'm getting a Mario Cuomo in the 1992 Primaries vibe from Biden...

[Drunken Irishman]

Cuomo famously was expected to run and become the instant front-runner ... but a funny thing happened on his way to New Hampshire - he didn't run.

If you were around then, Cuomo literally kept a plane idling on the tarmac as he decided whether to fly off to New Hampshire and enter the race ... of course, as we know, he didn't.

We don't really ever know why Cuomo didn't run in 1992. There was suggestions of a scandal, some skeleton in his closet that would come to light and ruin his candidacy. But I doubt it. It's likely he didn't run because he saw the changing demographics within his own party, and what worked and didn't work at the national level. When Cuomo announced, on the eve of the filing deadline for the New Hampshire Primary, that he was out, George Bush had an approval rating of just a shade over 50%. Granted, that was a steep fall from his highs after the Persian Gulf War ... but he was still treading above water, if only barely. Cuomo was an old school, New Deal Era Democrat from the Northeast, the same area of the country Michael Dukakis was from. You know, the Dukakis who got thoroughly pounded by Bush in '88. My belief? He saw younger, more energetic and popular candidates like Bill Clinton and realized the party was shifting. In the 80s, liberalism wasn't the future of the Democratic Party and the more moderate, Southern based candidates, guys like Al Gore, who pushed Dukakis in '88, and Clinton in '92, seemed destined to be the face of the party.

Now, we've got a situation similar to the early 90s but with a twist. I absolutely believe the party is more liberal today than it was in 1992. The base of the party is more diverse than it was in 1992. Biden, while someone who isn't exactly conservative, is now perceived to be the Old Guard - just as Cuomo was in '92. Candidates like Warren and Harris and others are now perceived to be the New Guard - just like Clinton was in 1992. New ideas for an ever evolving party.

I wonder if that's why Biden has been hesitant to jump in. He sees the party changing and while he's linked to the most successful, and popular Democratic president since JFK, he's still that Old Guard.

I guess we'll see. I still believe in Biden and if he were to announce, I would have a very difficult time not supporting him. But it would not surprise me if he didn't announce for the same reason Cuomo apparently stepped aside in 1992.

IF he doesn't announce, we gotta go find ourselves a Bill Clinton (err, not necessarily ideologically, tho).

[bigtree]

1. right

..Cuomo at the airport.

Classic political navelgazing.

[crazytown]

2. My guess: Biden (and others) are waiting untill April

to avoid being in the last quarter fundraising contest.

[Drunken Irishman]

3. Good point...didn't think of that.

[BlueFlorida]

4. Cuomo's reason for not running

was completely different. He feared his Sicilian family's deeds would be used against him and jeopardize the Democratic victory potential. He sacrificed so Democrats would win.

I have always respected Cuomo for that. Party before self interest and ego. I wish one of today's contenders thinks of the Democratic party first.

[shanny]

5. I wish several of them would.

[BlueFlorida]

6. Only one has a track record of hurting

the Democratic nominee and who has hired Jill Stein supporters as his campaign leadership.

[shanny]

7. lol

your concern is noted

[Cha]

8. It's not just BlueFlorida's "concern"

So "note" that.

[Tipperary]

9. Yes indeed.

[Cha]

10. Yeah, it's obvious who has hired

3rd party "attack dogs".

Sanders Promised Civility but Hired Twitter Attack Dog - The Atlantic

https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2019/03/sanders-promised-civility-hired-twitter-attack-dog/585259/

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

Hopefully it will BackFired