Though there are still delegates to be declared, it seems as though Joe Biden may win the Democratic nomination. This is how I feel. Now, this blog post may be premature, as Sanders may come back to win, in which case I will heavily edit/add on to this post. I do also want to note that my last post was about Super Tuesday as well, but I think this event is something we should be discussing and concerned with, as many of us will be voting in the general election. I think it's necessary to talk about Joe Biden, especially if we have to choose between him, a Cheeto, and an abstention.
Now, I don't want this to turn into a biography of Biden's life, because that's not what's important. What's important is how a man who previously resisted segregation, said "poor kids are just as smart as white kids," and called a young girl a "lying dog-faced pony soldier," an insult that means nothing to nobody, has been able to come to close to clinching the Democratic nomination for president.
Firstly, Biden has incredibly wide-reaching name recognition. From his lengthy career in politics to his numerous attempts at running for president before this year, the name "Biden" is something Americans are used to hearing about. It should also be noted that his time spent as Vice President definitely helped cement his name into minds everywhere, even if he didn't always have a significant role to play.
Another thing Biden has going for him is his voter base, he polls exceptionally well with a lot of different groups. Sure, Sanders has the Latinx community and young voters, but Biden has the old, the black, the white, and people who want someone who can "beat Trump." It seems this election strongly favors people who just beat the Republicans instead of someone who firmly upholds Democratic values and is in favor of progression. This has not always described Biden in years past, but hey, maybe people change.
In conclusion, I really don't want to vote for Joe Biden, but I hope some of you have learned some new information about the man who may become our president. I'll leave you with some questions:
- Do you think Biden can beat Trump, why or why not?
- Do former Vice Presidents have a significant upper hand in a presidential election?
- What are some key differences between how Sanders ran his campaign and how Biden ran his campaign?
6 comments:
I really don't know how to answer your question Sarah. I have heard from numerous people (including my grandparents, who live in Canada), that Trump will be elected for a second term. I don't personally support Trump, but I also don't know all the stats regarding this election so... I also don't know about Biden's ability to "beat" Trump, but I do know he is widely supported. This election concerns me, because both Trump and Biden have reputations of saying things that are really not PC (and kind of shitty to say, let's be honest), but both seem to be the top candidates? (maybe Bernie too, but I honestly can't say) I definitely think Biden has an upper hand in the election due to him being an incumbent, but then so does Trump.
Do you think Biden can beat Trump, why or why not?
Do former Vice Presidents have a significant upper hand in a presidential election?
What are some key differences between how Sanders ran his campaign and how Biden ran his campaign?
I think that Biden has had a past of losing elections, which makes me doubtful if he can beat Trump. I do say its a bold claim but saying Trump was going to beat Hillary was a bold claim once upon a time. But I mean It's crazy to think that his first presidential election he ran for was in 1988, and also his run in 2008. Although time has past from these losses there might be luck for Biden just yet. Being a former Vice President does give one a background, as he has had lots of political experience. I think the main difference between Bernie Sanders and Biden is Sanders democratic socialist standpoint.
Although I would agree that Biden is not the ideal candidate, especially given the reasons Sarah listed out in her blog post, I do think there is a greater chance of getting a Democratic nominee into the presidential office if Biden is the candidate. In the general election, the more moderate voters may be less willing to swing towards Sanders' ideals, in fear that the US may radically change. Thus, Trump would get more votes. Also, having a more extreme Democratic nominee may bring out more radical Republican voters, who will be more vocal and stubborn in their opinions if the democratic nominee really differs from their viewpoint. However, a more moderate democrat like Biden has a better chance of appealing to a larger voting audience, and thus a better chance at becoming president. Biden isn't perfect, but his ideals are better than Trump's ideals, making Biden as president a step up from our current political situation.
I don't think Biden can beat Trump since I personally feel that he is a bit weaker when it comes to speaking at debates. Throughout the democratic debates, he did have a harder time to have his ideas conveyed with fluidity like the other candidates. Trump likes to intimidate his opponents through his speech and if Biden is nominated as the Democratic candidate then he will have a tough time.
I believe Sanders is a better candidate than Biden even if he is farther left on the political spectrum because of his plans and his ability to connect to young voters. Honestly, I would want Sanders to not only be our democratic candidate but also president; however, I do have a feeling that Trump will win in the end. In other regards, Biden has literally "risen from the dead" through his recent victories from Super Tuesday and is ahead of Sanders by 50+ delegates. I think the reason for his wins is because people associate him with Obama and previous Obama voters are placing their votes on him.
Honestly I'm not sure whether Biden can defeat Trump, but with what little knowledge I do have of him, I'm leaning more towards being skeptical of his chances against Trump. Like Srimaye mentioned, he does have some weakness in terms of getting his point across in debates and he doesn't seem to stand out as much as Sanders. A part of Trump's whole campaign success in his first election for presidency was based on his eccentricity, if you can call it that.
Former vice presidents would probably have an advantage because of their reputation and how Americans would already have a sense of how they work. This could add appeal to Biden in the current election, but ultimately I think his presence is a bit overshadowed by Sanders. Who knows though-- after seeing how Trump won the presidency, it has become clear that anyone can become president, no matter their background.
I honestly don’t know if Biden can beat Trump, however I think he has a better shot at it than if Sanders wins the Democratic nomination. As Srimaye pointed out, Biden does have some weak spots especially when it comes to debates, however he has the potential to build a wider base of support that could prove to possibly defeat Trump. Sanders is very far left and, if he won the nomination, I can’t really see more moderate voters (or even more liberal Republicans) voting for him, which could be the deciding factor in the presidential race; Sanders is relying very heavily on young voters, which may not be enough to make it all the way to the White House. Biden, on the other hand, could probably pull in more moderate voters and, as you said, his name recognition and experience as VP doesn’t hurt. At this point, however, it’s kind of anyone’s game and I’m not quite sure how it’s going to play out.
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