Did Biden catch a break missing Warren in the debate draw?

[Funtatlaguy]

I think he might have.
I know he will have the other top polling leaders on stage with him.
However, I think Elizabeth is the one who might have come at him directly on banking and other issues.

[JI7]

1. i'm not sure there would have been much time to really get into things

it seems like there will mostly be time for people to kind of introduce themselves and make a case for why people should support them. and maybe answer whatever question is asked of them.

[thesquanderer]

27. Most debaters find a way to work in what they want to work in, whether it's asked about or not. (nt)

[hlthe2b]

2. Gillibrand is going to try to make her name conflating his Anita Hill issues with "Me-Too"

If she does so unfairly, I can only hope someone addresses her "Franken-issue"

[Funtatlaguy]

3. What could get really interesting on that subject is if

Gillibrand talks about how other Senators also wanted Franken to leave.
Frankly (pun intended) it’s not a good subject for her or our party to discuss. Too divisive.

[hlthe2b]

4. I totally agree... However, there will be big motivation to stand out...

and hearing Gillibrand the past year, she is not only defiant but thinks this is HER winning issue.

[thesquanderer]

24. Wouldn't surprise me, she strikes me as a scorched earth opportunist anyway. (n/t)

[lark]

18. Which almost certainly means with her 2 left feet approach, she will go there.

It will be a very bad move for her and will just remind folks how pissed off they are that she torpedoed him with zero facts, regardless of how she tries to portray it. We saw what happened, we saw him exonerated by the photographer and lots of other people in the room, and 100% do not approve of her actions - at least a lot of us feel that way.

[Shrek]

28. Yes. Especially since Sanders, Harris, and Bennet will be on the stage with her.

And they all jumped on the same bandwagon.

[DownriverDem]

15. She better watch it

Attacking the leader will not win new voters.

[onetexan]

32. She can try all she wants but the polls have her down near 0%

I wouldnt put it past this opportunist that she w pull such a stunt.

[IluvPitties]

41. And that's where she will stay.

Way too many genuine and good candidates around for her to stand a chance.

[Trenzalore]

36. She's going nowhere

She can go after Joe all she wants, support would probably drift to Senator Harris or Mayor Pete if she landed anything. The other "upper tier" candidates can benefit if lower tier candidates starting taking shots at Biden and staying silent.

[oldsoftie]

5. I only have one fear about Joe; looking "old".

He's got the skills, the knowledge, etc, but if he stumbles on anything and looks like a fumbling old guy, he's done.
That aside, i still think he's the best chance to beat trump

As for Warren, they'll be on the same stage soon enough, as the others dwindle away.

[hlthe2b]

6. I think he's likely to be very well rested and "pumped"... so while this might happen on trail

I doubt it will happen in the debates.

[oldsoftie]

7. Good point

[Funtatlaguy]

9. A great drinking game when you watch Biden.

He has two words that he says A LOT.
“Look” and “Folks”. He also likes to start sentences with both words.

[Demit]

10. Also "No joke!," "Here's the deal," and "I mean that sincerely"

[Funtatlaguy]

11. Yep, you are correct. Imagine drinking to all of them.

Like with Trump, imagine drinking to no collusion, no obstruction, or “we’ll see what happens”.

[Demsrule86]

21. And?

[Funtatlaguy]

22. There's no And. It's not a criticism. Everyone has there "go to" words.

I’ve been told that I often start sentences with “you won’t believe this”.

[Demsrule86]

26. I just wondered...not taking it as a criticism... he connects. I have seen him work a crowd like no

one else in 08 and 12...he and Clinton saved the Obama presidency in my opinion.

[Funtatlaguy]

29. I'm a huge fan of his. Even moreso as a person than a politician.

His work with Obama was outstanding.
I hate all of the personal tragedy he has endured burying so many loved ones.
But that has given him such a great amount of empathy and appreciation for life.
I would enthusiastically work for him as our nominee.

[Demsrule86]

30. Me too.

[Drunken Irishman]

42. Obama was big on saying, "Look...".

Bidenisms are fun:

"I'm not joking..."

"I mean this sincerely..."

"Literally..."

[thesquanderer]

33. I don't know... the Iowa speech was a big deal for him too, and if that was him at/near his best...

...then I think it's a valid concern. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either.

[JI7]

14. if that happens it's best it happens early on so people can start looking to others

more seriously .

[DownriverDem]

16. If he comes across strong

Biden should have no problem. Beating trump is all that matters.

[Funtatlaguy]

23. I think he will come across as warm and sane friendly Uncle Joe.

The country really is yearning for a nice good person to be back in the White House.
He certainly qualifies in that area as do many others in our field. 😉

[True Dough]

35. Wow!

If anyone supporting another candidate had made your post, they would have been attacked as "ageist."

I do have a lot of respect for Joe Biden, but I don't think he's the best option for Democratic leadership in 2019, despite what early polling indicates. I think the debates will result in competitors gaining ground. We shall see...

[oldsoftie]

44. Well, it IS a factor regardless of what anyone thinks.

Age does matter when it comes to performance. Remember reagan's decline. And people were afraid of McCains age too. Had he picked someone like Tom Ridge as VP instead of the doofus Palin he may have won!
Race & gender do not matter.
Too many people are ready to attach an "ist" to everything these days and its ridiculous.

Yes, the debates will likely tighten things up.

[True Dough]

45. oldsoftie, you are all right in my books

I agree with you.

If age isn't a factor, would Americans be comfortable with Jimmy Carter seeking another term in office? How about Ruth Bader Ginsburg, would Americans want her to serve four years as POTUS?

No, most would not because they're "too old." Everyone draws a line somewhere. I am concerned about a potential President Biden closing out his first term at what, 83 or 84?

Who's your number two pick, out of curiosity? After Mayor Pete, who is admittedly a long shot, I like Elizabeth Warren.

[oldsoftie]

48. Actually, I like Pete! Lots of "gravitas"

I like Yangs push for a sales tax, but he goes too far with the guaranteed income IMO

[Kahuna7]

8. Absolutely!

[BannonsLiver]

12. It's not as if they will never face each other.

[Funtatlaguy]

13. True that. Probably in July debate, if not, then September.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

17. A VERY lucky break for Joe!!

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[Skya Rhen]

19. Bernie will be heavily challenged on Medicare-For-All by a tag team that includes

Biden, Hickenlooper, Swalwell, Bennet and Buttigieg. They are all against this and this will not play well for Bernie...

[Funtatlaguy]

25. Despite some common thinking by some that Bernie is just

A curmudgeon type, I don’t think that is accurate.
I think he passionately cares about his positions and the country.
Sometimes he scowls a little when he’s worked up and people misinterpret that.
If Bernie is ganged up on, I don’t think he will take it personally.
He loves talking policy instead of personalities.

[Demsrule86]

31. I don't see ithat way...he take all things personally...always the victim in my opinion. But then I

don't care for him and would vote for him in a general only.

[ehrnst]

56. He certainly doesn't like be corrected or fact checked. (nt)

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

40. Bring it! That plays perfectly into Bernie's hands & will only distinguish his forward-lookin agenda

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[ehrnst]

55. How does it "play into Bernie's hands?"

[LanternWaste]

59. One day, you'll begin supporting your bumper stickers w/ evidence.

Thus raising them above the level of simple allegation to that of substantial contribution.

[Blue_true]

46. That was a good one.

I actually think Senator Warren got the Ace card. She can set the table for everyone, including Biden.

Should be interesting.

[LanternWaste]

58. That's certainly the unsupported talking point/spin

[Demsrule86]

20. Um no...and if she did that it would only have helped him.

[Blue_true]

47. I really feel that she is going to face him nose to nose soon enough.

I actually like her chances because I think that she is a better street fighter.

[Mike Nelson]

34. I expect...

… Warren to make the most of it, but it will look like part of a warm-up act. I don't think Biden benefited by Warren being off the stage - Bernie is going to represent the more progressive folks, and he's likely to be more focused on Biden's lead.

[Trenzalore]

37. Bernie needs to watch his left flank

Warren is coming off as having more substance and a better shot at taking on Biden.

She keeps climbing in the polls I expect a lot of the non-diehards in the Bernie group to start giving her a serious look.

[Mike Nelson]

39. Agree...

… she's great at substance. She would be much stronger than Sanders against Biden... and Crooked Donald...

[floppyboo]

43. I think you misunderstand SBS's mission. He's not worried about a left surge

I'm going to predict that either one or both Sanders and Warren will get more than 15% in every state in the primaries, and that at the convention, one or the other will encourage their delegates to join forces. And they/us will win!

[BlueWI]

50. Agreed. Warren and Sanders supporters have a lot of

common ground on the issues, and they're a 30% bloc in the Democratic base. Biden and Warren are on opposite sides of the table on some of the finance and consumer issues. And this party is supposed to stand up for the little guys, right? Who's more likely to stand up when the big banks start calling??

[beachbum bob]

38. no big deal.

[Lithos]

49. I think Warren got a break

Mostly because it gives her a chance to focus on Policy and to distinguish herself. I think the second night with Biden and Sanders will be more about Personalities with little opportunity for substance with lots of "message" getting drowned out.

[Pachamama]

52. +1000

Completely Agree- this was a break for Warren and give her an opportunity to shine

[tirebiter]

51. We all benefitted

Their mano a womano will come. We don’t need that just yet.

[JustAnotherGen]

53. I don't think so

I think Sanders and Buttigieg did.

[karynnj]

54. I do not think it really mattered to Biden who was on the stage

Consider how many minutes each candidate is likely to get. Each answer will likely be so short that it would be difficult to quickly appear to answer then pivot to what you want to speak about. It would seem that only if there is an introductory or concluding statement that Warren could speak of that and it would likely be with the contrast of the agency she led on creating. She can do that with or without him.

[themaguffin]

57. There is no break, now matter how the groups were divided. He's the target.