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Joe Biden made his first public appearance as the presumptive Democratic presidential candidate from his living room on Wednesday night, broadcasting live a “virtual town hall” from his home in Delaware.
The former vice president answered voters’ questions about unemployment against a backdrop of shelves and framed family photos, a familiar setting after public health concerns about the coronavirus sent him, his Democratic opponent Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump out of the Bell.
But with Sanders suspending his bid on Wednesday, Biden faces new questions about how to campaign and connect with voters at a time when most Americans observe “shelter-in-place” or “stay-home” orders.
Matt Bennett, co-founder of Third Way, the Democratic think tank, said Biden needed to be “as ubiquitous as he can be” in both mainstream and online media.
However, he cautioned that it would be difficult for Biden to draw voters’ attention when elected officials make “life or death” decisions about people’s health and livelihoods.
At the same time, Donald Trump appears on all major television networks for hours each night. The president used his latest press conference on the White House coronavirus to wonder why his predecessor, Barack Obama, had not yet endorsed Biden, his former vice president.
“[Biden] I cannot make any such decisions. He doesn’t have a position of authority at the moment, “said Bennett. “It is very difficult to attract attention in an environment where other political leaders are doing things that affect people hour by hour.”
But while Biden may lag behind Trump on air time, it could also be a benefit even if he has little control over the narrative. “You can’t expect him to be matching Trump or even matching [New York governor Andrew] Cuomo for coverage, ”said Mr. Bennett.
“But it is not at all clear that what Trump is doing every day is helping him politically; in fact, he could be hurting him.”
According to Gallup, Trump’s job approval rating rose to 49 percent last month, the highest in his presidency, in a sign that more Americans supported his handling of the coronavirus crisis.
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But as the number of Covid-19 cases increases and more Americans lose their jobs, an FT-Peterson survey showed that nearly three-quarters of American families had lost income due to the pandemic, the president appears to be falling. disgraceful with some voters.
A Monmouth University poll released Wednesday showed Trump’s approval rating was 46 percent. A Quinnipiac poll showed that 45 percent of Americans approved of the job they were doing.
“Trump’s rally around the flag effect could have, and arguably should have been, major,” said Kyle Kondik, an analyst at the University of Virginia Policy Center.
However, Kondik added that Trump was a politician with a “high floor and a low ceiling”, which means he has a solid base of support but little room to grow.
“He is so consistently combative and aggressive towards the other party’s people that he doesn’t really give Democrats and many independents much reason to change their minds about him,” he said.
Bennett put it bluntly: “If Trump were a normal president, if he were Bush, he would be 90 percent right now, because that is what happens in the midst of crises.”
Former President George HW Bush’s approval rating peaked at 89 percent at the height of the Gulf War in 1991. Immediately after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, 90 percent of Americans approved of the George W Bush’s job was doing as president.
Mary Anne Marsh, a Democratic strategist, agreed and said the November election would ultimately be a referendum on Trump’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic. The crisis gave Mr. Biden “many opportunities” to distinguish himself, he said.
“A lot of people are home, a lot of people are looking for information, a lot of people are looking for guidance, a lot of people are looking for hope,” said Marsh. “They want to be safe, and they certainly haven’t received it from the White House … and that’s a great opportunity for Joe Biden.”
Biden’s first big move is choosing a running partner
Speculation about Joe Biden’s possible vice presidential election includes his longtime opponents for the Democratic nomination Elizabeth Warren, left, and Kamala Harris © AP
Joe Biden will not be the official Democratic presidential candidate until the party’s nomination convention in August, an event that the former US vice president. USA You’ve already said that it can be “virtual” rather than in person. But your first big move as your presumptive candidate will likely be choosing a running mate.
In a televised debate against Bernie Sanders last month, Biden promised to name a woman as his vice presidential candidate. This led to speculation that he could select a formal rival for the Democratic nomination, such as Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar, California Senator Kamala Harris or Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren.
Matt Bennett said Biden’s election would be “even more important” than in previous election cycles, given that the 77-year-old man would be the oldest person chosen for the White House if he defeated Donald Trump.
“[The vice-president] You need to be ready to take over at a time of intense national crisis, “he said.
Kyle Kondik agreed, but added that while Biden could select a prominent governor, such as Michigan’s Gretchen Whitmer, Democrats have historically chosen senators as their vice presidential elections. Biden himself had served in the US Senate. USA For more than three decades when Barack Obama selected him as his running mate.
– Lauren Fedor
