Can This Be Happening
Joe Biden has an, ah, innovative strategy for maintaining his apparent polling lead:
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) plans to enjoy ice cream with New Hampshire voters to celebrate Memorial Day. He won’t be far from former Maryland congressman John Delaney, another presidential candidate, who’s in the midst of his 19th trip to the state and plans an itinerary that includes four barbecues, one parade and a wreath-laying.
In Iowa, Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) is rolling through the cornfields in an RV, while Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) unveils a “Family Bill of Rights” and tours an ethanol plant.
And here’s former vice president Joe Biden’s agenda for the holiday weekend, according to his campaign: “Joe Biden has no public events scheduled.”
Those seven words are becoming familiar for the Biden team. Aside from a campaign swing right after announcing his candidacy, Biden has kept his head down while his rivals rush from state to state to state. Even when he has held public events, they have included only a handful of questions from voters or reporters.
Hmm, I wonder why this seasoned pol is trying to keep public appearances to an absolute minim…
In a somewhat odd moment at tonight's AFT town hall, Biden tells a 10-year-old girl, “I’ll bet you’re as bright as you are good-looking." He takes her over to the assembled reporters, then stands behind her and puts his hands on her shoulders while he's talking.— Felicia Sonmez (@feliciasonmez) May 28, 2019
Part of me continues to think that when a nominal frontrunner wants to keep their campaigning to a minimum, and this approach is perfectly rational, their polling lead is built on air. What with President Donald J. Trump and all, part of me has a darker view.
Seems increasingly plausible that Biden:
1) is exactly as bad at this as his skeptics promised.
2) will win in a rout, anyway. https://t.co/xxogbX9J51— Eric Levitz (@EricLevitz) May 29, 2019