Republican insiders fear Biden as the nominee

[5starlib]

On the Morning Joe roundtable, there was a reporter from the WSJ that I couldn't remember the name (sorry), and he said that the Republican operatives and insiders have told him they fear Biden more than any other candidate simply because he's more likeable than practically anyone else. Sure, they will try to tear him down, but there's something to be said for someone who is likeable.

Bill Clinton survived numerous allegations of infedility and impeachment due to people just simply liking the guy from Arkansas. This is Biden's ace in the hole. When people like you, they look over any issues they may have and they are more likely to vote you.

[Thekaspervote]

1. Of course they do!! Thx for posting

[OAITW r.2.0]

2. He contrasts positively when measured against Trump.

That said, I don't see him as a change candidate, someone more likely to get back to the Obama status quo. He has got to select Harris or Warren as his running mate and I see the ticket kicking ass down ballot.

[Mr.Bill]

7. Hell, Richard Nixon would contrast positively when measured against Trump. n/t

[JI7]

10. that's just meaningless phrases. Obama changed things for the better

[comradebillyboy]

3. Being likable was the only thing George W Bush had going for him.

And no, I am not comparing Biden or any of our candidates to George Bush but he won two elections because people liked him more than Gore or Kerry. Being likable is an asset in politics.

[5starlib]

6. Yes, and it drove us (liberals) crazy that Bush was likeable

to a large percentage of the population. But it's true, he was elected twice cause people liked him and Kerry and Gore were perceived as stiff and cold, though they were both whip smart with great policy plans.

[emmaverybo]

4. They like him! Which is what rivals' supporters really hate. They don't feel he has earned it. They

also know you can’t become likable no matter how brilliant you are or how worthy your policies.
They know voters forgive what maybe they shouldn’t because, well, they like him.

But here’s the thing. Joe is likable and he won’t raise taxes. It’s a BFD.

[JI7]

11. if he does what Obama did. he will raise taxes on the wealthy

[emmaverybo]

12. Well, he says he will right off roll back the Republican tax giveaway. Yes, I should have said he

won’t raise taxes on the middle/working class.

[peggysue2]

24. Right on the mark, emmaverybo

What Biden possesses naturally is referred to as 'emotional intelligence.' People like this can read other people; they can empathize and frequently offer themselves up as a helper. They're also very good at listening to others and rarely rush to passing judgments because they're skilled at seeing the world through the other's eyes.

There's a whole list of EI qualities out there, qualities you could easily apply to Joe Biden which place him high in the likability factor. And we're seeing that reflected in the polls and how ongoing criticisms and smears have had little impact.

It's a good thing to be likable when you're expected to lead 330 million people. Which in my mind sounds like . . . common sense.

[emmaverybo]

25. Excellent analysis of what his likability really is! I knew it wasn't shallow. EI, a great attribute

for a leader. Thanks for enlightening us, peggysue2.

[Thekaspervote]

27. Yes agree great analysis... thx for posting!!

[SWBTATTReg]

5. To be honest, I think all of the democratic candidates are whipping rump's butt when 1 on 1...nt

[TCJ70]

8. Do we believe Republican operatives and insiders now? N/t

[NurseJackie]

13. We believe those who observe, analyze and report on their words and behavior.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

17. Well Jennifer Rubin gets posted here regularly

Here’s what her former ombudsman said about her

https://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/news/city-desk/blog/13067559/ombo-sauce-advice-for-jeff-bezos-from-the-posts-former-in-house-critic


The Ugly Jennifer Rubin. Have Fred Hiatt, your editorial page editor—who I like, admire, and respect—fire opinion blogger Jennifer Rubin. Not because she’s conservative, but because she’s just plain bad. She doesn’t travel within a hundred miles of Post standards. She parrots and peddles every silly right-wing theory to come down the pike in transparent attempts to get Web hits. Her analysis of the conservative movement, which is a worthwhile and important beat that the Post should treat more seriously on its national pages, is shallow and predictable. Her columns, at best, are political pornography; they get a quick but sure rise out of the right, but you feel bad afterward.

And she is often wrong, and rarely acknowledges it. She was oh-so-wrong about Mitt Romney, week after week writing embarrassing flattery about his 2012 campaign, calling almost every move he made brilliant, and guaranteeing that he would trounce Barack Obama. When he lost, the next day she savaged him and his campaign with treachery, saying he was the worst candidate with the worst staff, ever. She was wrong about the Norway shootings being acts of al-Qaida. She was wrong about Chuck Hagel being an anti-Semite. And does she apologize? Nope.

Rubin was the No. 1 source of complaint mail about any single Post staffer while I was ombudsman, and I’m leaving out the organized email campaigns against her by leftie groups like Media Matters. Thinking conservatives didn’t like her, thinking moderates didn’t like her, government workers who knew her arguments to be unfair didn’t like her. Dump her like a dull tome on the Amazon Bargain Books page.

Patrick B. Pexton was the ombudsman of the Washington Post until March 2013. He blogs at PBPexton.com. Illustration by Jandos Rothstein

[LanternWaste]

20. This is troubling for Bernie.

[NYMinute]

9. Correct. K&R nt

[Perseus]

14. Interesting...When have republicans admitted to being afraid of anything?

Hmm...sounds like they are trying to get Biden as the nominee...Doesn't anyone find this strange that republicans went out of their way to say "they fear Biden"?

I don't know, it is very strange.

[quickesst]

28. using your logic....

....it seems the GOP is having a rough time making up their minds about who they fear, and about who they want to run.

Does anyone find it strange but they went out of their way to say " We Fear Warren"?
https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/wp/2018/10/18/why-republicans-are-so-afraid-of-elizabeth-warren/
( headline)
"Why Republicans are so afraid of Elizabeth Warren"


Does anyone find it strange that they went out of their way to say " We Fear Kamala Harris"?
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2019/07/gop-insiders-fear-kamala-harris
( headline)
“She’s Dangerous”: GOP Insiders Fear Kamala Could Be the Next Obama

You see where I'm going with this, right?

[Gothmog]

15. Joe Biden is the most electable candidate that the Democratic Party has available

Link to tweet

[customerserviceguy]

16. Biden hasn't been demonized for the last 20 years

like Hillary was. They've only got a bit more than a year to do that, but they're willing to let some of the other Democratic candidates do it for them.

[andym]

18. Likable/affable candidates do very well in recent American politics

On the GOP side, Reagan was a Teflon-coated President because he was so affable. I think Joe Biden will be too, perhaps he will end the Reagan conservative economics era that has gone on for about 30 years.

If Joe gets the nomination and he think he may (though I support Elizabeth Warren), I hope he picks a progressive as his running mate (perhaps even Elizabeth, if she's willing), because that is the way that Joe can capture some of the excitement on the Left, and because it will help push his policies leftwards.

[crazytown]

19. Biden is no Bill Clinton

[peggysue2]

21. Likability is a thing

Particularly in the minds of voters who respond to candidates with a personal, emotional appeal. It works in politics and elsewhere because it's linked to transparency, genuineness and understanding the other person. In this case voters.

Bill Clinton was a master at this, the I-feel-your-pain meister. Republicans may have scoffed but Clinton's supporters loved it and were willing to defend his less than admirable qualities because he was likable as well as competent in the role of governance. GW with his goofy missteps and verbal miscues as well as a ragged competency record was considered likable, the guy you'd most want to have a beer with. That folksy, twangy delivery made him beloved by his supporters up until the War in Iraq disaster and the economy nearly going over the cliff.

And so it goes. And yes, this is Biden's 'ace' because he is perceived as being likable by a whole slew of voters. The personal and emotional come naturally because that's who and what the man is. His heart is pinned right on the sleeve. Definitely a plus!

[onetexan]

31. Well said

[DrToast]

22. They can read the polls just like the rest of us

And they’re right that Biden will be hard to tear down.

[HeartlandProgressive]

23. some feel he will crash and burn

[saidsimplesimon]

26. Really, Joe and Mika speak for Democrats?

All our candidates are "likeable". imo

[Gothmog]

29. Joe is open to work down the aisle and find common ground, just like Barack Obama.

Link to tweet

[Gothmog]

30. Joe is the best candidate

Link to tweet