Mike Allen outlines the case that Joe Biden is expected to make if he runs for president:

The great white (voter) hope: I can bring back the rural, white, mostly male voters who sealed the presidency for Donald Trump. Think Wisconsin.

I’m liberal — just not that liberal. And too liberal won’t win.

Been there, done that: In this dangerous chaotic world, we need a steady hand — not someone who’s playing or practicing president.

Remember last year when I said: “If we were in high school, I’d take him behind the gym and beat the hell out of him.” Well, game on: Trump won’t intimidate or bully me.

If you’re looking for a rising star, there’s a low-risk place on the ticket — next to me.

Speaking at a firefighters’ conference Tuesday, former vice president Joe Biden didn’t leave much doubt that he’ll be running for president. “I appreciate the energy you showed when I got up here. Save it a little longer, I may need it in a few weeks,” he said after a raucous welcome. He added, “Be careful what you wish for.” His appearance reminds us of why he could be formidable.

First, if Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) wants to fundamentally change the United States (“Socialism!” Republicans will scream) and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) says the system is so rigged that incremental changes won’t work, Biden appeals to Americans’ better angels, to the idea that President Trump doesn’t understand what makes America great. “That’s not who we are,” he says after describing the divisiveness and anger that Trump amplifies. “We’re better than that,” he cajoles the crowd. It’s a solid message for a candidate running in a fairly good economy with a president who’s stressing out the country. He also suggests a confidence of America post-Trump. (“There is nothing we can’t do,” Biden likes to say.)

Second, there are few politicians as adept at making a traditional economic message against stereotypical fat-cat Republicans. “I look around this room, I see the people who built this nation,” he told the crowd. And boy, have Republicans given him material to work with. He told the firefighters, “Did you see the budget that was just introduced? It cuts $845 billion ... in Medicare and ... $240 billion in Medicaid. Why? Because of a tax cut for the super-wealthy that created a deficit of $1.9 trillion and now they’ve got to make somebody pay for it.” Bingo.

Any presidential candidate who isn’t saying some variation of that every day is foolish. This is where you remind voters that Trump ran as a populist — better health care, middle-class tax relief, protect Medicare, get better trade deals — but governs as an oligarch — take away Obamacare, increase the gap between rich and everyone else with tax cuts for him and his pals, slash Medicare and get us into trade wars.