Biden rallies SC backers after NH setback: 'It ain't over man. We're just getting started'

[TexasTowelie]

COLUMBIA — As votes were tallied up Tuesday night in New Hampshire showing Joe Biden far behind some of his Democratic primary rivals, the former vice president stood more than 900 miles away, rallying his South Carolina supporters to keep the faith.

Biden told a jubilant crowd in Columbia to look ahead to the next two states --the Nevada caucus and South Carolina primary -- which offer the first tests for candidates among Hispanic and African American voters, respectively.

“We just heard from the first two of the 50 states,” he said. “Where I come from that’s the opening bell, not the closing bell.”

Biden’s last-minute decision to skip his New Hampshire election night party in favor of a trip to Columbia produced a stark split-screen, contrasting his deflating night in the Granite State with a still buoyant mood in South Carolina, where he remains the front-runner ahead of the Feb. 29 primary.

Read more: https://www.postandcourier.com/politics/biden-rallies-sc-backers-after-nh-setback-it-ain-t/article_f3547df6-4d14-11ea-9621-b7788708731c.html

[Cha]

1. Hello South Carolina!

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

Gracias, TexasT

“We just heard from the first two of the 50 states,” he said. “Where I come from that’s the opening bell, not the closing bell.”

Excellent observation!

[Pachamama]

2. It's a marathon....Iowa and NH represents the first 1/2 mile

Just because two people sprinted ahead of the pack in this short percentage of the marathon is literally meaningless. I would say that even if Biden was leading.

After March’s Super Tuesday primary, let’s look at how the marathon standings are.

That will give a much better view of how the marathon is going and it’s likely outcome.

[TexasTowelie]

3. It's not how you start. It's how you finish.

My prediction is that Biden will have a 100-150 delegate lead after Super Tuesday and he will expand his lead throughout the month of March.

[Cha]

6. Perfect! "tt's not how you start. It's how you finish."

[Iliyah]

4. Plus, we need to hear from the POC . . .

every Democratic vote is important. Kinda piss me off when they are not included in the overall equation.

[Funtatlaguy]

5. Bless his heart. I love Joe but his time has passed.

His mind just isn’t as quick and as sharp as it used to be.
Watch any interview or debate from now or five to ten years ago.
I hate saying that but it’s just the truth.

[Cha]

7. No, it's your opinion.

[Funtatlaguy]

8. But an informed one.

I’ve taught speech classes and public speaking.
Something is different now.
Just watch with an open mind.
I love Joe.
But he rambles and loses his train of thought quite often.
He will change subjects mid sentence.
He leaves off the end of words often.
He just does.

[Cha]

9. yeah, I have an informed opinion, too.

[Garrett78]

12. He's always been prone to gaffes, but I agree that he's not as with it.

Without a script, like in a debate, he seems lost much of the time.

And the truth is he's never been a good presidential candidate. He's doing better this time around than in his previous 2 attempts, but that's not saying much.

[Mike 03]

10. Definitely keep going for now!

This election cycle is not typical, and too many people forecast Joe would not prevail in these early contests.

He can't be written off yet. If he's got the money and the will he should go further, just to make sure.

Anyone who claims they know for certain what is happening now in this election cycle should be treated with healthy skepticism.

[Garrett78]

11. Biden's glimmer of hope rests on the fact that Buttigieg and Klobuchar...

...have virtually zero POC support, and - as I understand - not much infrastructure in the remaining states.

But whether people like it or not, IA and NH do matter (whether or not they should). Decades of history say so. Those 2 states always have an outsized influence. Narrative matters, and there tends to be a snowball effect. Also, Bloomberg (racist and misogynist that he is) isn't doing Biden any favors, as he's convincing people (without having to actually campaign and debate) that he can be the Biden alternative as Biden falters. At least until more and more people learn the truth about Bloomberg.

Still, you'd rather be Biden than Warren at this point. At least Biden still has his must-win state ahead of him. But a bad loss in Nevada will increase the likelihood that he'll come up short in South Carolina.

[Mike 03]

13. That point you make about infrastructure is important.

Some of the political analysts were discussing this last night.

[Garrett78]

14. Being a huge underdog forces you to put all your time and effort into the early states.

And then you just hope those early states give you the momentum (and the donations) to keep going. Rarely does it work.

[bucolic_frolic]

15. Fairly or unfairly

voters know any whiff of socialism will play into Trump's wheelhouse. Afterward, Warren talked about the problems of people she'd met. And in my view, Bernie underperformed relative to 2016, and really didn't run away with it. Don't know if age is a factor. It may emerge as a root of what's going on. Filtered for age, socialism as an issue, experience, Amy emerges to the front of the pack. Bloomberg is in the hunt, and with his billions age doesn't matter. How fickle we are. Biden needs to perform, he needs sound bites, and with his record and experience he can't be written off right now.

The spontaneous candidate who feels the moment and articulates a heartfelt connection with voters wins. Amy, Bloomberg, and to a great degree Sanders are in that spot. Standard stump speeches don't cut it, which is why I don't include Mayor Pete in that category despite his impressive showing.

[stopbush]

16. Sounds hollow to me.

[UncleNoel]

17. Now we are cooking! Just donated to Joe's great victories coming!!

It ay well be JOe and Bernie as Pete, Amy and Liz have no place to go in the upcoming states. If several lower tier candidates drop out, it will probably be to Joe's benefit.

Keep on a truckin' Joe. We have your back.

[Lancero]

18. Joementum!