After being underestimated by rivals, Joe Biden holds steady lead in Democratic presidential race

[highplainsdem]

https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2020/01/20/after-being-underestimated-by-rivals-joe-biden-holds-steady-lead-in-democratic-presidential-race/

Early last year a high-level official who helped Beto O’Rourke weigh whether to get into the presidential election examined the field and came up with the following conclusion: “If all Beto has to do is get by Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders, I like his chances.”

At the time O’Rourke, the former congressman from El Paso, was running third in the national polls, behind Biden and Sanders.

You know what happened. O’Rourke got into the race and flamed out before the Iowa caucuses. He’s not alone. Many of the 25 or so candidates that were running for president have vanished from the scene, including Sens. Cory Booker of New Jersey, Kamala Harris of California and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York.

What’s clear now, and should have been obvious then, is that Biden is the most formidable candidate in the once large field. His connection with the Democratic Party’s most reliable voters is unshaken by months of presidential debates, as well as media and political pundits predicting a Biden collapse.

The former vice president is far from a paper champion, as his rivals are beginning to realize. Yes, the voting hasn’t started yet and he can still be knocked off course. A poor finish in Iowa could start a decline, though Biden has dramatically improved his standing in that caucus state.

It’s Biden’s race to win or lose. Here’s why.

As many candidates rushed to embrace the progressive policies outlined by Sanders in the 2016 presidential primary, Biden stayed close to the middle. He’s assuring voters that on the health care issue, abolishing private insurance doesn’t make sense. That’s probably where most voters are on that issue as well.

In taking a more moderate tone, Biden bolstered the notion that he’s the best chance to oust President Donald Trump in November. With nicknames like Scranton Joe or Middle-class Joe, Democrats hope Biden can return states like Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania to the blue column.

-snip-

Biden also benefits from being familiar to voters. As vice president under Barack Obama, he enjoys strong support with middle-aged to older black voters, the most reliable cog of the Democratic Party. No other candidate in the field approaches his popularity with black voters, which will be important when the presidential race leaves Iowa and New Hampshire.

-snip-

There is something to be said for a fresh, more energetic candidate. That’s been the appeal of former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg and was supposed to be a positive for O’Rourke.

But the overwhelming desire to beat Trump has many voters settling on the tried and true.

-snip-

Still, Biden is in the driver’s seat. After being underestimated for most of the summer, Biden is proving that experience, connections and a simple message can still go long way, maybe to the nomination for president.

[evertonfc]

1. My two cents

having talked to friends within the party structure is that Biden will have to implode to lose. Iowa and NH is huge for Sanders, Warren or any potential candidate that wants to challenge Biden.

[beachbumbob]

2. reality will sink in more and ideolgy less.

the fear of GOP/trump has always been Biden. His reach is farther than any other candidate democrats have.

[Sloumeau]

3. highplainsdem, thanks a bunch for posting this! :)

This is good news for Joe Biden!

[Vogon_Glory]

4. Biden: A Return to Normalcy

Joe Biden isn’t my first choice for President, but I’ve come to believe that he’s got the best prospects for defeating Vladimir Vladimirovich’s asset @ 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. I think he’s also got something else I don’t think we’ve seen for a long while: the promise of a return to “normalcy.”

Admittedly, the last politician who used “normalcy” as a successful meme was Warren G. Harding, but compared to the temper-tantrums, bullying, corruption, incompetence, bigotry, and non-stop lying, Joe Biden embodies the best hope of a return to “normalcy.” Hell, when you have a presidential administration that makes Warren G. Harding’s look at least half-way competent, you know we can do better.

[Demsrule86]

5. Thank you for this...highplainsdem

K&R...

[PatSeg]

6. And Joe won't be the first candidate

to be underestimated by his/her rivals or the media.