Sanders bets on Biden debate implosion

[RandySF]

During an all-staff call Thursday evening, Sanders’ national organizing and field director, Misty Rebik, admitted to the team that it was facing an uphill battle — but it has always been that way, she tried to assure them. Sanders himself has appeared less confident on the campaign trail in the last few weeks, even looking downcast at a round-table with workers in Michigan, which is the type of event where he usually seems most upbeat.

At the same time, Sanders’ staffers truly believe the trajectory of the race could change — that the campaign that somehow found itself in a stronger position after Sanders suffered a heart attack last fall could have another improbable comeback.

They argue that the primary has been volatile, and that Biden himself trailed in the first three primary and caucus states before leapfrogging to frontrunner. They also point out that former presidential candidates such as Kamala Harris and Amy Klobuchar have surged in polls after strong performance debate performances.

“I don’t know if you’ve seen Joe Biden lately, but he doesn’t like to be told he’s wrong,” said a Sanders adviser. “We’re going to take him on around the issues and make him defend his record. He’s deflected on those in earlier debates because there’s so much chatter happening on the stage. But when you’re one-on-one, you change the dynamic.”

It’s unclear how aggressive Sanders will be with Biden. Some of Sanders’ staffers and supporters have been frustrated by what they see as his light touch with his former Senate colleague, whom Sanders likes and considers a friend. Even with Hillary Clinton, Sanders often lacked a killer instinct, famously telling her in a 2015 debate that “the American people are sick and tired about hearing about your damn emails!”





https://www.politico.com/news/2020/03/15/bernie-sanders-joe-biden-debate-129418

[George II]

1. Uphill battle is an understatement. It's like climbing Mount Everest in flip-flops.

[LaurenOlimina]

2. Sounds like a solid last ditch effort.

"take him on around the issues and make him defend his record"

That will be interesting.

[msongs]

3. just on msnbc a robotic bernie speech quoter dodging questions nt

[RandySF]

4. It was the same guy who called Michelle Obama ugly.

[William769]

5. I'm willing to bet money on how tonight's debate goes.

[True Blue American]

9. Saw that!

[Hoyt]

6. Just let Sanders rant away, he won't help himself.

[patricia92243]

7. I hope Biden doesn't let Bernie set the questions for BIden's part

of the debate. He needs to stand up to Bernie and tell him he is not going to run MY campaign.

[True Blue American]

10. Who are

The Moderators? They ask the questions.

Dana Bash and Jake Tapper

[Blue_true]

16. There is a third Moderator. nt

[JFK1961]

8. That should go two ways.

Joe should make Bernie defend the reality that during 13 years in the Senate and 16 years in the House, Bernie has made a great deal of noise--much of which has been good, but has actually accomplished very little. He has exhibited very little patience by working to move incrementally when possible. Instead, he generally has opted to choose an "all or nothing" strategy. Compare that to Ted Kennedy, who accomplished more than anyone else over his years in the Senate, by working with what was possible as he kept his eyes on the prize.

"Does not play well with others" is not a useful trait for an effective leader. Unfortunately, that description applies quite often to Bernie.

[sop]

11. Rather than ask Sanders the most obvious question: "How are you going to pay for all of this?"

Biden should instead ask Bernie how far he's prepared to compromise on everything he's proposed after it's rejected not only by every Republican, but by a majority of fiscally moderate Democrats as well.

[blue-wave]

12. My bet and prediction

is that Joe will win the debate and come away from tonight even stronger, with talk of Joe taking the role of presumptive nominee.

[Blue_true]

17. That is my bet. In 2012 when Joe had to come up big in the debate with Lyin Ryan,

Joe did, pasting Lyin to the floor, with Lyin Ryan still gulping down water.

Joe's camp surely knows that Sanders will be breathing fire and that Joe has to take that on and defeat it.

[tirebiter]

13. Bernie sounds a lot like Nixon

After JFK won a debate by not sweating.

[yortsed snacilbuper]

14. This ain't Joe's first rodeo,

go Joe!

[unitedwethrive]

15. So Sanders is going to be trying a bunch of gotcha questions?

Great. I'll just read the summary here.

[Hortensis]

18. What's Russia up to and how much do these top people know?

I've always wondered why Sanders waited a full month to endorse and was so enraged when he did, when he should have known a half year before that he was going to lose big.

[Cha]

19. So how did that work out for him?

[TreasonousBastard]

20. Not so well, it seems.