Collating all comments here, with a nod to the outliers, the Sanders zealots, whose fervor can be confused with electability...
Bloomberg/Klobuchar ticket unless Buttgieg's tenacity keeps him relevant.
Biden and Warren are out of the race.
This is where things appear to stand based on comments of this "focus group."
2
I was an early supporter of Biden when he first got into the race, based solely on his years in the Obama administration. But after watching him in the debates and actually listening to him, my support has waned. I’m still all in on “vote blue no matter who” - I just no longer hope “who” is Joe. I don’t think he’s up to the task at this point in his life and I think he’s accumulated far too much baggage. He has served admirably but his time has passed. Time to move on.
5
What of a M & M Ticket, Mike and Michelle, (Bloomberg and Obama) "How sweet would that be running against "old sourpuss".
3
Thusfar, the Republican strategic of diluting the Democratic primary electorate to the detriment of Biden has proven to be very effective. Senator Ernst of Iowa made reference this type strategy several weeks ago while making comments to reporters. However, the Biden campaign is well aware of this type of strategy at work ,and, therefore, the focus on the South Carolina primary and from there super Tuesday.
1
Sorry to say this, but a decent, honest, caring, and ethical man like Joe Biden doesn't stand a chance against Trump and his rapacious campaign crew in this presidential election cycle.
With Trump and his enablers there is absolutely no bottom to their cruelty and viciousness in pursuing reelection. Nothing - and no one - is out of bounds.
Joe simply will not do "whatever it takes" to be elected. He has moral and ethical limits which he will stay within. As laudable as that is, with someone like Trump as an opponent it is a distinct disadvantage.
The whole mess with his son Hunter and his tepid response to Trump and Giuliani's campaign of character assassination is a perfect example.
2
I grew up in the Steel City in a USW household in the '70s. My father and grandfathers were members starting in the 30s. I loved Joe Biden as he was the most liberal guy in the Senate and was hopeful that one day he would be the President. I feel Joe was very Union friendly and would of made a great President protecting the working families of this country. Im sad that he will most likely not be the nominee and bring this inept, mentally ill dotard's abuse of power to an end. I PRAY another Democrat does. What i find most disenhartening is the number of union members who chose to vote GOP in 2016 and seem to be again leaning that way. Why do they insist on voting against who butters their bread?? I was very enthusiastic for Biden to run against Trump and win for some to spare. Dont see that happening. I can only wish Joe best wishes and many years of health and happiness with his family. He worked his tail off for 40 yrs and fought for me so that I too could gain more than my parents did. And he knew his business. God bless you Joe.
Maybe some Biden supporters are experiencing what I am about him: I'm bored. I'm tired of the White House schemes against him and tired of his wavering responses (though I can't quite criticize them).
Why aren't more of trump's fan club sick of trump's constant demands? His drama should have long ago worn down the staunchest of the many supporters who don't need him. And surely his team wasn't smart enough to have concocted this approach.
I hope nobody else is as Biden-bored as I am. I'm not thrilled with any candidates now, and the Democrats' unity is imperative if we're to end donald trump's sullied reign.
1
”Old Age is a shipwreck”.
——————- Gen Charles de Gaulle
It’s actually worse. Abandonment. To be ignored. Marooned,
2
Who was it that said old age is like being punished for a crime you never committed? (Pause for google.) Teilhard de Chardin! The great French Jesuit philosopher and evolutionist. “Growing old is like being increasingly punished for a crime you haven’t committed.” That is a great description.
1
Your majority selling point can't be "I was this guy's vice president" and expect to win.
5
not up to the task
2
While each democratic candidate is trying to maximize her/his chances of winning in the primaries, they all seem to be forgetting that the real goal is to minimize the chances of Trump winning in November. These two goals can be mutually exclusive, and we can end up repeating the debacle of McGovern vs. Nixon in 1972, where McGovern, clearly the better candidate in hindsight, lost all but his own state.
@JB
"...they all seem to be forgetting that the real goal is to minimize the chances of Trump winning in November."
No. Amy Klobuchar has been laser-trained on Trump from day one.
1
To me he never looked the part. I don’t believe he has the energy and can go the distance and his performances at the debates were not great plus the whole Hunter Biden issue really doesn’t help. I like Bernie but would prefer someone younger- my pick is Is Mayor Pete - he’s super sharp, has great responses and I believe with the right VP could be a powerful antidote to Trump. Maybe Amy as the Veep ? She has huge senate experience.
4
We shall see how the African American vote goes in SC. No Democrat can be elected president without a strong black turnout. If Biden runs better against Trump than Bernie, he will definitely get my primary vote. If the other way round, Bernie quite likely will. I would like to see a Biden/Booker or, even better, a Klobuchar/Booker ticket. But a Sanders/Booker. or Sanders/Klobuchar ticket would be good too. I wonder if we know how many Republicans voted in the Democratic Party's NH primary? That might have played a part one way or the other.
Joe Biden seems overall to be a stellar individual but like so many people does not know when it's time to move along. Mr. Biden, thank you for a lifetime of bravery and service, but retirement awaits you.
3
I was a supporter of Biden. Recently I am supporting Mike Bloomberg. Bloomberg is an aggressive politician who has money and a team of talented people to advise him. This upcoming election is challenging because of Trump who can do or say anything to get elected. I don't see any democratic candidate except Bloomberg who can really compete with Trump. Bernie and Warren are leaning extremely towards the left. Neither of them can win against Trump.
3
The actions of Trump to undermine and raise questions about Biden have been successful in knee-capping Biden's campaign during the primaries, thus eliminating Trump's biggest potential opponent. It is likely that the next target will be attacked in a similar manner (false allegations of corruption, unpunished crimes, fake stories of wrong doing, etc), with Democrat supporters sadly responding by saying "he or she isn't electable." Democrats: Trump is playing you like a fiddle.
4
I intentionally wrote in other post that Biden’s main problem (in my mind) isn’t Hunter and Burisma, but his age and personality. You can’t yell at someone and call them a “lying dog faced pony soldier” just because they said “yes” to your question when you were expecting the answer “no.” Joe seems grouchy, unhealthy, and possibly in the early stages of dementia. It’s a shame. Trump is all of those things, too, but why do we want another Trump?
6
If Biden could get his ego out of the way, he'd do the right thing and drop out. His debate performances have been mediocre at best, and he has failed to deliver any reason why he should be president except "because... Obama". For the life of me I cannot fathom why anyone would donate another penny to his campaign or the super PACs supporting him. Put that money where it will do something besides get wasted on private jets and pointless ad campaigns. The man has no momentum, and can't seem to string three sentences into a coherent thought.
6
All things equal with all the Democratic candidates, I've missed hearing much about what Trump & the Putin have accomplished in messing with Vice-President Biden's reputation.
Please, dig deeper.
2
Joe Biden is the Democratic party’s high visibility loser. Sad, so sad to see the guy go down like this. He’s no Hillary Clinton and he won’t get protected on the unfolding Ukraine fiasco, he’ll finish his career under the bus. Very sad.
2
I want to like Biden but anyone watching the guy sees something is off with him. EOM
6
@LTJ
Judge not the dentures lest yours be judged, one day. Seriously, combined with his long-battled speech impediment, it looks like Biden's new dentures create a verbal obstacle in his mouth, particularly after HOURS of talking in public. This should be nothing, but in an atmosphere where a lapse of one second brings media attention and innuendos, it may be fatal. Tough times for human beings.
2
Joe Biden belongs to an era that has disappeared and will never return: the twenty years of peace and bipartisanship between Watergate in 1974 and the unprecedented-for-decades Republican takeover of the House in 1994. His sole basis for running is his effort to bring that era back, but he has very few people other his fellow Washington veterans who want that era brought back. We are where we are, sorry to say.
6
I was one of his first supporters. I continue to be a supporters. If you study politics, there are always bad moments, but there are also recoveries. I prefer Biden's manay years of experience to candidates who have none. Cleaning up the government after Trump leaves will be a monumental task. I prefer someone with experience to someone whose only experience is being the mayor of a small college town. I hope that if Joe recovers and does well in the 48 states left all Democrats will support support him.
2
One word answer to Joe Biden’s candidacy: Bloomberg.
4
Joe, just say bye-bye, and we’ll ensure the right person wins..... Bernie!
2
I just ordered a bouquet of flowers for Anita Hill with a nice note about Biden.
1
Joe Biden is a smart guy, but he needs to look younger. He needs to dye his hair. Ronald Reagan dyed his hair for years. Joe Biden ought to realize that darker hair would make him stand out more. Like it or not this is a youth oriented society.
Politicians need to use every trick in the book to stand out from the pack. Joe Biden would be a great candidate but he needs more savvy advisors. Dying his hair would immediately improve his popularity and his electability.
Bernie Sanders can get away with grey hair because he has a much stronger message and a much stronger stage presence than Biden. Biden would also be smart to run on what he wants to do for America instead of just bashing Trump. After awhile a completely negative campaign turns people off. The voters want problem solvers because they face real issues in their own lives. The high cost of prescription drugs, jobs, putting food on the table and making ends meet. So they don't want to hear negatives, they want to know what are their leaders going to do about these problems?
@Louis
Hair? Warren could use a prettier hairstyle also. But then, who's talking about looks? Oh, we are.
1
Why does it take the reporter 9 paragraphs to get to Bernie Sanders? Does no one at the NYTimes understand that the Democratic Establishment fills even many lifelong Democrats with dread?
We saw the way the DNC steered us toward the Ultimate Establishment Candidate in 2016, and I have never felt the same about my own party. Establishment Democrats didn't want Sanders splitting the vote by running as an Independent, but they also didn't want to treat him fairly. Sorry, but I'm an American, and I may be a lifelong Democrat, but my loyalty to fairness is dearer to me than my loyalty to a political party.
I truly wish the Establishment would leave voters alone and allow them to vote for the person they want, rather than the person the professional Democrats have decided we ought to want. I'm expecting a big, very expensive onslaught of anti-Bernie ads and so on. In two cases, so I can vote for people who used to be registered Republicans?
Sorry, but Bernie Sanders looks more like a Democrat than any of the Democrats on stage with him. And I do hope the Times doesn't jump into the same unfair loop that Establishment Democrats are becoming known for.
The voters I know don't want the same corrupt "business as usual." Many of us, maybe most, were sick and tired of the status quo when we elected Obama in 2008. Then in 2016 we got a candidate who was clearly a step back. Never again, thank you. Never again.
3
"Latino voters", "black voters", "women voters", "young voters"... Perhaps if the pundits treated people like individuals and not amorphous identities the voters might tune back in.
8
Are Iowa and New Hampshire really good predictors of anything? Historically, haven’t they been contra-indicators?
1
Easy to resolve.
Rest In Peace Mr. Biden.
You are next to Hillary Rodham Clinton.
1
Fallen behind!? It's New Hampshire and Iowa. Two tiny states. Biden isn't my first pick but stop trying to call things long before they are over.
3
So who should we vote for, NYT? I've read nothing but contradictory articles from you. I think I've decided but I'm not 100% sure yet and you sure aren't making it any easier for me. Are you purposely confusing your readers or am I missing something? Our primaries are coming up soon and I need a little help here. Sincerely, a long time subscriber.
4
I would note that although The NY Times doesn’t do a particularly good job at this overall, this is the “news” part of the organization, where they aren’t supposed to tell you who to vote for.
The editorial board, which hasn’t endorsed any Republican probably since Lincoln, is more than happy to take that on, and did. Hint: you are supposed to vote for either Warren or Klobuchar. Apparently they couldn’t decide either.
2
The Times endorsed both Warren and Klobuchar. I’m down with both! Warren is my number one preferred candidate, then Pete, then Amy. Any of them would be more than okay with me.
2
Joe Biden’s disgraceful treatment of Anita Hill disqualifies him from the Democratic nomination. He’s just another old, rich, white man who believes that he is entitled to be President.
9
I don’t think he was ever the front runner...
11
He was never the front runner. All a media concoction.
12
@Gary Trump believed it!
2
Someone has to do a movie edit of The Godfather, Marlon Brando asking Joe Biden what happened, and Joe (looking for forgiveness in his eyes) starts with the familiar line: “Here’s the deal” but understanding how upset Don Corleone is, stops and as the camera looks behind the dark back of Corleone, a long silence follows. Fade to black.
1
Biden looks and sounds like his heart isn't in it. He would have won in 2016. That was his chance.
11
His body and mind have passed that point where one has the energy to do this. I know I wouldn’t try just on that point. Now it’s time to do like Kenny Rogers says... know when to fold’em.
4
This is a really good article!
1
Someone let Rudy know Biden is not going to be Trump’s opponent.
3
The combination of Biden's unsteady responses and the allegations surrounding his relatives cashing in on his connections (proven or not) have dealt him a mortal blow. He has the same bad case of mytimeitis that Hillary had and puts forth an attitude that the nomination should be his for the asking, and based on the polls not many people are asking. He already has overstayed his welcome in this campaign, and every additional day he stays further damages what should have been a very good legacy and makes it look like he is another Washington insider that will do anything to stay on the stage. Anyone who is a friend of his should tell him he should suspend his campaign ASAP and leave without putting his finger on the scale for anyone. Last, he should offer to campaign for the eventual nominee and do what he can to make sure they end up winning. That would preserve his reputation, or alternatively he can stay around as an annoying obstacle and no one will be returning his phone calls next January.
5
Dear Joe: It's over. You missed your chance in 2016. Life and politics do not often give second chances (of course, the irony in your demise is that the Lady of Chappaqua might use it for her third chance-what fun that would be).
You should have stayed home with your memories and your medals and perhaps helped anoint a winner. Now, you are simply the guy that lost big time. Frank Sinatra didn't know when to leave the stage either, and it too was embarrassing at the end.
4
@Michael Smith
Last year I forecast to myself, my family and my friends that if the day came when Biden faltered, Clinton would announce her candidacy.
She'd do so late in the race to avoid spending huge sums and to lessen the time frame of being a target. Until this is over I'll be looking for her.
This is not to say she'd get my vote, though she did the last time around.
Please note that family and friends also thought I was nuts for my unswerving belief that Trump would be elected. Look at that prediction.
When the media claimed that no one envisioned that, it was fake news.
1
I'm sorry but he is just terrible as a candidate.
12
What a great time it is! Looking ahead, the Dems just have to pick who will lose in November. In the interim, we will have the Perfect Storm until then. Bernie; who condemned the very rich way before Bloomberg entered & Bloomberg, a capitalistic King. Talk about polarization! It will be way better than Cage fighting. Contacting the White House & the RNC, I urged them to please, please also concentrate on funding the campaigns to defeat Shifft, Nadler, AOC, Talib, Pelosi, and that other Gang member. Today, I believe they can all be defeated in their own Districts. Bidden will face indicted soon. Rudy G. after visiting the Ukraine has the evidence & witnesses to do this. The Senate is investigating now and it will happen. Great time ahead!
3
Obama needs to sit Biden down and explain reality to him. For the good of the party. It's time for either a liberal or a young person to be president. And it is time for Trump to go.
4
As my father said: "Don't stay too long; always leaving them asking for more."
If Biden drops out, which I think is best for him and us at this point, then all Trump's quid pro quo and withholding documents from Congress was for naught.
But look at what Trump put this country and the Constitution through, just to have the leader of a foreign country find dirt on Biden's son Hunter. Trump essentially has turned our democracy into a full fledged dictatorship.
And the GOP, by refusing to impeach Trump and then voting to acquit him for his high crimes and misdemeanors, has rendered our Constitution toothless, if we ever need need to hold another corrupt President accountable.
6
@PB
Actually, Trump's quid pro quo DID work. Democrats took the bait and fell into Trump's trap. Impeachment allowed the republicans to talk about Biden's "corruption" regardless of whether it was true or false. Most voters don't have the time to dig into all the details. All that was needed was a seed to plant that sowed doubt. Even if most democrats don't believe the lies about Biden, they probably feel that he is damaged in the same way that Hillary was damaged, and so they don't want to repeat history.
1
@dba those aren’t lies about the Bidens. Say what you want about President Trump, one thing is for sure: Hunter was /is the pawn and Koenig is corrupt.
Has Warren become invisible?
Biden was in 4th place in Iowa. Behind, Bernie, Pete and Liz. He was in 5th place in NH. Behind those 3 and Amy.
In both cases, BEHIND Warren as well as the 2 front runners in IA, and the 3 in NH.
2
Trump was acquitted by the Senate after being accused of conspiring with a foreign government to find illegal activities committed by Joe Biden's son, Hunter. Trump's supporters were elated.
No such elation awaited Joe Biden from the Dems. He and his son were convicted by the court of public opinion. The impeachment proceedings gave the Bidens a continuous stream of negative publicity, with Joe struggling to convince America that Trump was unethical but he was squeaky clean.
Joe then entered the races in Iowa and NH completely hobbled.
6
Biden’s negatives mount up pretty quickly. His record over the decades looks like that of a centrist Republican.
2
I really really like Joe Biden. But, he needs to pull out now and not split any further the moderate Democratics. Bernie will be a catastrophe.
4
So we have been told by the media that Biden was the most electable. Progressives said he had to much baggage.
Well.. Here we are.
Are the opinion folks going to admit they were wrong?
2
we cannot afford to take a chance with a self-defined socialist, a mayor of a very small city, a billionaire who all of a sudden is a Democrat,”
Indeed. Which leaves Amy Klobuchar, a fine choice.
4
Biden comes across as a guy willing to take it on the chin and not fight back People thought Joe could be a brawler when in reality he is the friendly uncle who won’t crush a grape Most people are seeing Biden isn’t nimble enough to take on Trump.Biden makes a great second banana but never a leading man.
2
It’s worse than a Hillary rerun. Hard to believe that again the Democrats are missing the mood and needs of the Country. They fought off Bernie in 2016 and it was they not Republicans who elected Trump. How about we finally stand up and embrace the literal screams of our citizens rather than listen to the corporate dominated media. Yes! People all need healthcare. Yes! People all need affordable education. Yes! People all need livable wages! Finally - yes! yes! yes! Those things and low are all the will of the people and 100 percent doable! Go Bernie!
2
We can only hope that Joe salvages some semblance of dignity before watching a presidential candidacy go down in flames for the third time. It's no great surprise that Biden 3.0 is so similar to Biden 2.0 and Biden 1.0, and the sell-by date is long past.
"Long the front-runner" and "most electable" indeed. Voters have a nasty habit of showing exactly what they think of the establishment media's most persistent horse-race narratives.
5
Biden was never a front runner. he had better name recognition in the beginning.
3
A 78 year old man, now faded in physical and mental agility, believes the presidency is his for the taking because he is next in line?
It did not work for Muskie; Mondale; Dole; Gore; Kerry or HRC and they were younger.
6
When Biden set off on his “No Malarkey” bus tour though Iowa, he painted himself into a corner as an old school politician from a bygone era (I mean, who talks like that anymore?). His gaffes and foibles continue to reinforce his reputation as out-of-touch politician. Nice guy, heart’s in the right place, but #okboomer, time to move over.
3
Sorry to say, Joe never really stood a chance. Hauled out by the party as the first test strip to see how he would fare as the moderate candidate best able to run against the President, old Joe faltered, stumbled and quite honestly, made a fool of himself. The notoriety he gained during the impeachment and trial spotlighted a dark, and deeply troubling side to what was thought to be a simple, kindly "good ol' Joe" image. Slinking out of New Hampshire did nothing to help his image. When he finally, thankfully bows out of the race we all be left with the final impression... dirty Joe.
2
This is not his first rodeo. Biden ran for President in 1988 and in 2008. He wasn’t successful then and he won’t be now. Bloomberg saw that and decided to get into the race as an insurance policy so that a viable centrist would be competitive. It probably won’t be Biden or Bloomberg, which is a good thing.
2
I have so much respect for Joe Biden, all he’s done throughout his career, but it’s just not meant to be. It’s time to pass the baton.
I find myself wondering if his son hadn’t tragically passed away and he ran in 2016 and got the nomination, we’d be living in a different country right now.
2
One thing is clear, neither Sanders nor Buttigieg needed help from the Russians or Ukrainians to help win over Biden. He does that all by himself. The question now is can he do anything in South Carolina. Probably not. In the news reports he is describe as a nice guy, middle of the road, and of course, he has a lot of experience. But he is running against others who could not care less about all those and they voice their positions with passion. They have no intention to be middle of the road or nice during the debates. They are a warm up to run against Trump who talks to his crowds with a passion and nothing held back. The problem for the DNC seeing Biden fall and Bernie winning, is who do they have that can beat Bernie, and after that, do they have anyone who can beat Trump. I'm sure the are thinking a lot about that now.
1
The center of the Democratic Party will look to Bloomberg who, with his money and his ability to take it to the incumbent, is the likely nominee. Trump and Giuliani succeeded in the hit job on Biden. Klobuchar will continue to generate interest, but few think the time is right for her against the Bully in Chief. Buttigieg will fade on Super Tuesday as will Sanders. The media has long over-sold the importance of Iowa/NH. But this year, the tea leaves in those states have shown us that the ultimate nominee wasn’t favored in those places.
1
This is why we need Ranked Choice voting. The democratic party is as divided as America is as a whole. I fear the dems will cannibalize any efforts to put forth THE candidate that can beat Trump by continuing this intra-party battle that leaves no one at the forefront. If the goal really and truly is to overcome Trump Ranked Choice would at least allow for the candidate with the least amount of distaste rise to the top. I know it's controversial but we have a broken system and we need to try something new.
2
Biden was the front runner only if you weren't paying attention. He didn't have enough supporters at my caucus of over a thousand people to form a viable preference group. His campaign in Iowa was sloppy and didn't really reach out.
1
When the Ukraine thing first came out, I predicted that despite Trump’s wrongdoing, Biden would be the one destroyed by it. It is not Ukraine alone. That said, Biden’s time has passed. But it is not time for Sanders. Klobuchar is emerging as a viable candidate. If all moderate votes are consolidated into one candidate, that candidate handily beats Sanders and more accurately represents the breadth of the party. Biden should drop out immediately and let Klobuchar overtake Buttigig and she will then consolidate to defeat Sanders. Warren should stay in to be the “thinking man’s” Sanders and cannibalize some of his votes.
1
Getting more convinced that the only person that can beat Trump is Bloomberg. He isn’t a perfect candidate but Bloomberg checks two big boxes: Climate and Guns. Works for me.
4
It is a new day in America. And like it or not, Trump, disaster he is including as a disgraceful offense to decency, has paradoxically made this "new day" dramatically more so. We cannot go back though; it has to be forward. Mr. Biden is "old school;" he's had his day and it's not credible he would be able escape the influence of that should he become president. It's time for him to get actively behind someone else in support for getting rid of Trump. No person is perfect, but Mr. Biden deserves our respect for genuine service to the nation over a long political career. Mistakes happen. Mr. Biden's example as a man dedicated to the welfare of others is reason to honor him by as well. He serves the nation the nation still in fact, in his display of personal dignity. Not everyone can or should be president; so what?
This is Joe's third run since 1988 and he obviously hasn't learned much over the past 32 years about running a presidential campaign. He has no organization, no message and very little support.
2
Joe Biden already negatively effected the 2016 elections by very late to decide not to run. Now his classification of Latin and Blackparty are already hurting the unity the party needs. Adding the MSNBC commentators who gladly digging up information where the present candidates might have hurt in the past some groups shows more the lack of leadership in DNC. Mr Perez needs to resign quickly so all who want defeat number 45 can come together irrespective of color gender or believe. Otherwise there will be no president number 46.
1
Mr. Biden is a goodhearted humble human being and as Obama has said several times, a good friend. He needs to end his campaign and support Amy Klobuchar. She has a real chance of beating Trump. She will not be labeled a socialist and will resonate with suburban moms, never Trump Republicans and moderate Democrats.
2
The more he campaigns the less I like him. What could be explained as a folksy way of speaking now seems like the weird words of an old, impatient man. And it is fine to highlight your record, but you aren't Obama. If that's why we're supposed to vote for you then please drop out.
2
I suspect Biden will fizzle in Nevada, and do only so-so in S. Carolina, and will wave the white flag shortly afterward.
It's clear not even Joe Biden is excited about Joe Biden's candidacy. He got into this out of a genuine sense of patriotic obligation, imagining himself as serious contender to get the creature out of the White House.
But that's just not going to happen. He would not only lose badly, but be gleefully tortured by Trump all the way to November. I don't want to see that happen to Biden, a very decent man.
Joe, thank you. Please retire.
3
Biden has never won a single primary or caucus in three presidential campaigns. His presumption of being the nominee based on being VP now looks like a combination of naïveté and hubris. It is time for him to pack it in.
3
I voted for Obama and then Trump. The only democrat I would vote for is Bloomberg and I would like klobuchar as the V.P. I cannot stand Warren, Sanders or the rest of the Democrats.
6
Biden is doing poorly because the American people are on to his and his son's corruption as exposed by the impeachment hearings. If anything good has come out of the impeachment hearings it will be the downfall of Biden. Thank you.
4
I am not a Biden supporter but the only thing exposed by the impeachment hearings - if one actually bothered to watch them - was the absolute cowardice, arrogance and self-dealing if the Republican party. Biden is losing but not because of false corruption claims that nobody outside the Fox News bubble ever bought into anyway.
1
Decent man.
A pro-corporate moderate Democrat.
Always a terrible Presidential candidate - in 1988 and 2008.
Now clearly and obviously past his sell by date.
Should have never run.
Hope he loses in South Carolina so he can end his disastrous campaign sooner rather than later. For his sake. For the Democratic Party’s sake.
5
I'm not a Biden supporter but the media are putting too much emphasis on voting results in Iowa and New Hampshire. Those states should represent just the beginning of the Democratic primaries, not the conclusion.
18
@Whole Grains
Biden's electability argument is going down the tubes and his poll numbers with it.
3
"Centrist Democrats" don't support poison legislation like BAPCPA - the 2005 gift to the credit card companies that has effectively prevented eight million people from availing themselves of the Constitutional right to bankruptcy protection. (Article I, Section 8.)
Just a reminder that Biden was Senator from Delaware at the time.
8
@Jason
While I am not a fan of the BAPCPA,it does not prevent people from filing bankruptcy. Instead, what it does is make it more difficult (by requiring people to take a financial education course before filing), and modifying the type of bankruptcy relief they can get (by pushing people into chapter 13, versus chapter 7).
I will certainly vote for Biden if given a chance but I think Trump took the wind out his sails when he went after Biden and his remaining son. Face it, Joe Biden is a class act and the president knew how to get to him. Being impeached is small stuff to a guy like Trump and it was worth it to get the result he wanted -- Biden out of the running. The president better be careful, though -- Bloomberg isn't going to fold so easily.
28
Please, Joe, step off. You are committing disservice if you persist in your run for the WH. Step off.
10
Bernie and Biden are too old. If you are over 70 don't run for president. This is ridiculous.
21
@terri smith
Add Mayor "Stop-and-Frisk" Bloomberg to that!
2
I don’t want a 70+ year old POTUS.
14
Joe Biden once again follows the traditional democrat playbook gambit of pandering to African American voters to get elected, then delivering to Wall Street bankers to get rich. He’s had a pretty good ride but it’s time to move on.
18
Again, it ain’t over till the Black Ladies Sing. And by Sing, I mean VOTE. I’m not writing Joe off, until a few States that aren’t extremely White VOTE.
Seriously.
12
@Phyliss Dalmatian
The former Vice President just came in 4th and 5th. His electability argument is crumbling before our eyes.
3
He had his time. Move on.
7
I would vote for a dog-faced pony soldier before I would vote for Joe Biden.
16
I just love it when a plan works out - Donald Trump
3
The sooner Biden is out the better.
11
Bides lying dog faced pony soldier remark was akin to Clinton's horrific basket of deplorables. One asks 'who could think no less say such a thing.' He has repeatedly insulted people who came to hear him, calling them liars. His handling of the Hunter thing could not have been worse. He comes across as an curmudgeonly dotard. Hard for me to continue to support someone when their entire strategy is say they're the one to beat Trump, threatening him with an elementary school yard Duke it out. Just glad his weaknesses became apparent early on. On the upside we did get an impeachment out of his candidency. Trump will try to take credit for it when he drops out whereas he had nothing to do with it. Biden did it all on his own.
14
I do not support Biden,never have, but this letter is just plain mean. Biden needs to drop out but he should be treated with respect. He merits that after a long and distinguished career.
1
Still naive after all these years. He will feel liberated after packs this one in.
2
I’m hoping for a Bloomberg/Abrams ticket.
4
Bloomberg/Klobachur is what will defeat Trump.
Too many Americans are scared to death of progressive public policy.
Sad.
4
Trump's attacking Biden and his son also hurt. Trump will attack whoever is the nominee Democrats must confront Trump similarly. Try this -
"Trump, with 5 deferments for bone spurs - couldn't remember which foot - over-ruled the Chief of Naval Operations who demoted a navy Seal convicted of bringing disorder and discredit to the armed forces after his own fellow Seals turned him in. Then he fires a highly decorated Iraq war veteran with a purple heart for telling the truth under oath when subpoenaed. These are facts.
10
@C
I think Trump did us all a favor by pushing Biden out now. He is so weak, and past his prime. He surely would have lost to Trump if he were selected as the Dem nominee.
1
Losing your cognitive speech abilities due to age is sad.
Losing an election and four more years of Trump is sadder.
12
@Rod - You make it sound like Biden is a contestant on Family Feud. Now those people have lost cognitive speech abilities.
1
I know that friends and family all see what we see when Joe speaks— there are very apparent cognitive issues happening. If they really care about Joe, they should spare him any further humiliation and advise that he step down.
19
Well it’s a sign in bold, big letters, please step down. Voters are tired of old politicians with no new ideas.
Klobuchar/Abrams 2020!
6
@Meena
For heaven's sake a two-woman ticket has not a whisker of a chance.
1
More correctly he’s the ‘former front runner’ rather than “long the front runner”.
8
@Col Flagg He was never a front runner in any real sense. He got that anointment from the media, in turn, just for about 20 minutes. Then they moved on to someone else. He never should have run.
Now watch how fast the media turns on Buttigieg.
2
Mr. Biden is a decent and easily likable man, but he tried to run for president before and failed not only once but twice. It should be no surprise that he is failing this third time.
Either he does not have that inherent appeal or he does not have that skill to run a presidential campaign.
With all due respect, Mr. Biden should probably consider suspending his campaign to give way to the better equipped Mike Bloomberg.
11
Biden voted for the Iraq war. That is just unforgivable. He treated Anita Hill horribly. There is so much injustice in the world and he was a part of that. Hunter should not be on the board of directors of a Ukrainian energy firm, no matter how you slice and dice it. And Biden consistently challenged Trump and even a voter to a street fight. This childish, aggressive, male-chauvinist behavior is high-school ridiculous and needs to stop. We need adults now.
12
Biden's campaign never had legs. All he had was some momentum from his association with Obama admin which is now spun in the corporate DP as a "golden era".
Of course, it was not.
Under Obama, the public of the 99% was crushed; "centrist", or neoliberal, warmongering insanity with a happy black face plastered on.
People's homes and savings are still gone, and Biden who helped with that huge siphoning of middle class wealth into elite pockets is certainly not going to get it back for them. In fact, he'll probably be too busy undermining social security to spare it a 2nd thought.
Biden is the past, a relic of the centrist DLC coup in the Dem party that has enabled the Republicans and their allies, the oligarchic corporate and wealthy classes, to completely take over and run the country as their own giant estate, with the rest of us cast as their serfs.
He has no political vision to improve the country, and even if he did, it would not be credible in the least because of his dismal record.
Dems spent 4 years trying to annul Trump’s victory, hitching their wagon to the Russian collusion hoax, then doubled down on the Ukraine hoax. Something doomed to failure and simply proving Trump’s central theme of a corrupt establishment.
Biden is the poster child for corrupt establishment just like Hillary was.
2020 is still an anti-establishment election.
If you couldn’t see the non-viability of Biden 6 months ago, then you have zero political instincts.
He’ll drop out after SC.
26
“Russian collusion hoax...Ukraine hoax.” No folks, that is not a Trump supporter. That is one of the most fervent Bernie supporters in the Times comments. To be fair, it would be difficult to care about Russian election interference and still support Bernie after the Mueller Report documented Russian involvement in promoting Sanders as well as Trump in 2016.
1
Iowa and New Hampshire are just the first two states having caucuses /primaries. They don't say anything about how all 50 states will vote so for you to put out this hit piece on Biden confuses me. Biden is still winning the polls for the country. Bernie will not win the Presidency, being a Socialist is even more unpopular with most Americans than being gay. If you don't start supporting the man whom Trump is terrified of than I wonder about you.
2
@Barb the Lib
No, I can't support the one Trump is currently terrified of (Bloomberg). A rich old white guy buying the Presidency. Ugh. If The Donald was at one time 'terrified' of Biden, he isn't any longer. Biden is getting beaten like a drum. He needs to step aside for the sake of his wife's sanity.
1
I'm still trying to figure out what a pony dog face or whatever is.
14
It’s not the first time Biden has used the phrase.
At a 2018 campaign event, talking about the Republican senator Kevin Cramer of North Dakota, Biden said: “As my brother, who loves to use lines from movies, from John Wayne movies … there’s a line in a movie where an Indian chief turns to John Wayne and says: ‘This is a lying, dog-faced pony soldier.’”
Biden’s spokespeople said the line comes from a John Wayne film – but it’s not clear it does.
There is a 1952 western called Pony Soldier, but it does not star John Wayne, and no one is called a “lying, dog-faced pony soldier” in it, according to Slate.
There is, reportedly, a line in the film in which a chief says: “The pony soldier speaks with a tongue of the snake that rattles.”
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/feb/10/joe-biden-lying-dog-faced-pony-soldier-new-hampshire
2
@Socrates
I was taught never to call a woman a ‘dog face’ under any circumstances.
Biden’s off his rocker.
3
Is this really all that shocking? He built his campaign on sand. When your entire campaign is built on winning elections and nothing else, you don't end up winning. His support is clearly soft at best and he clearly believes his support from African Americans is taken for granted. People in South Carolina can see that you lost Joe. They want a winner and you aren't it.
4
Bernie Sanders wo
Pete Buttigieg placed ahead of
Amy Klobuchar who surged to third
She showed
Elizabeth Warren who the boss is
A rival she’s gregarious toward
For Joe Biden, Two Bad Losses
and a Precarious Path Forward
Here’s the deal: Joe Biden’s heart isn’t in it. Not to mention the noticeable decline in his mental capacities. It’s been hard to watch him in the debates. There’s no fire, no passion, nothing to excite the base or move reluctant and non-voters to the polls. He’s only running because he thinks he’s needed to save us from Trump. He’s not. He’s doing more harm than good, by dividing the center-left vote. He never should have run.
Let Buttigieg, Klobuchar and Bloomberg duke it out for the moderate vote. One of them needs to become the alternative to Bernie. (Warren is my preferred candidate, but things don’t look good for her.)
Then, whoever it is, everyone needs to stop the hyperventilating and support. The importance of the 2020 election cannot be overstated.
11
The front runner narrative is just that, a narrative, not grounded in truth, but in imagination of the establishment wing. I hope that the primary electorate will show unequivocally that Bernie and/or Buttigieg are their candidate through and through. Then they can both be on the ticket.
Uncle Joe needs to drop out of running for President, but he needs to keep campaigning for the Democratic win. He needs to put whatever political power he has behind whoever the nominee is, and commit 100% to defeating Trump.
5
Commenters need to get real. He is visibly declining and has no business running for President at this stage in his life. There's even been talk of running as a one-termer as a way to allay concerns over his age. Biden has himself alluded to it. No one should vote for a candidate prepared to toss aside the advantages of incumbency in 2024.
I don't have any antipathy for Joe Biden, but this was a vanity project. It would have been much better for the Democratic field to have an open debate on the moderate lane without Joe Biden looming over it.
11
On paper, Biden is the one to defeat Trump. The problem is, in person, he is not. Too many verbal blunders, not thinking on his feet very well, time after time. Certainly, he is more electable, despite these problems, than Sanders, Buttigieg, or Warren, none of whom are electable. But that's not enough. He has to be more electable than Trump. At this point in time, I favor Senator Klobuchar.
6
@Markus - No, Sanders and Buttigieg are not electable...which is why they took first and second place in the first two primaries and the "front runner" came in around 4th or 5th.
1
Biden needs to get out now and give someone else a chance to beat Sanders.
5
Whenever I listed to Joe Biden speak or debate in Iowa or New Hampshire, this image kept recurring. Here is a man h a hurling a colander of spaghetti at the ceiling, hoping some strand of thought would stick. None did. It all just landed on the floor, a tangled heap of a mess.
8
I admit to being confused by the contradictory responses towards Joe and Bernie. They're roughly the same age but while moderates seem to be abandoning the former vice president for younger models like Buttigieg and Klobuchar (or Bloomberg, who's actually the same age as Biden), Bernie's boosters are sticking with him despite the presence of the somewhat younger Elizabeth Warren who pretty much shares his policy prescriptions while offering voters more detailed plans on how she expects to pay for them. I'm a moderate progressive who can envision voting for Sen. Warren but would be exceedingly cautious about following Bernie over a cliff that would, in my view, lead to the almost certain reelection of Donald Trump. I credit him with the consistency of his convictions but can't see moderates and independents willingly surrendering their private medical insurance in order to pay higher taxes for something they just don't want. Nor can I see them voting for the decriminalization of border-crossing by undocumented immigrants, for reparations paid to African Americans whose ancestors weren't enslaved or for free college tuition for kids who can barely read well enough to get out of high school. Sorry to say that left-wing extremism doesn't appeal to me any more than right-wing extremism. Nor does a my-way-or-the-highway socialist strike me as much of an improvement over a my-way-or-the-highway fascist.
5
Good grief...look at where we (democrats) are...Sanders recently had a heart attack and is too extreme, similar to Warren whose sails have gone slack; you'd think her yelling would provide some wind but alas... we have Buttigieg who has no really relevant executive experience and there is that other thing...we have Klobuchar who's taking some hits for being difficult to work with tho that seems a bit of a reach after Trump, but she's a moderate with a good bit of experience and at this point is coming off very well, so maybe. Forget Steyer and Gabbard...more people may be talking about me!!!
Then there's Joe. Not the Joe of yesterday, sadly, but the Joe of today, and while the decency remains, the vigor and clarity seem gone. Still,.. almost enough is left, but not quite.
I think that leaves Mr. Bloomburg. Are we really going to embrace a multi-billionaire to solve our problems? They keep saying nice things (well, mostly), but how does a multi-billionaire truly relate to what common folk go through? The super-rich have failed the common citizen. They are a government unto themselves.
So Trump wins. America stays but democracy goes under.
Whomever we Dems vote for, it's just exhaling.
6
I wouldn't be so fast to discount Mr. Biden's chances. Bill Clinton lost Iowa and New Hampshire in the 1992 primaries, getting only 2.8% of the vote in Iowa. And although Sanders is leading the pack, he is probably not electable because of his self-proclamation as a socialist. Hence, the Democratic Party will do everything in their substantial power, including rule changes, again, to ensure their nominee is more centrist. So far, that means they'll support either Biden, Klobuchar or Bloomberg, unless someone new jumps in. I doubt they'll support Bloomberg. So, I think Biden is still in the running. If he wins Super Tuesday he'll be well on his way.
2
@R.R comparing Joe to Bill is a huge stress. Bill Clinton is charismatic. Joe Biden is not.
4
@R.R
Biden political faceplant denialism is apparently contagious.
Biden brings nothing to the the table except a pair of comfortable bedslippers.
It's over for Clueless Joe.
6
@Daffodil - Clinton was also very young and did not make gaffes about forgetting which state he is in.
2
VP Joe Biden is a patriot, honest, ethical and would be a vast improvement over Trump.
He recognizes that Trump is an existential threat to the rule of law, freedom, democracy, the Constitution and the criticality of addressing climate change and infrastructure.
Yet he has run for President 3 times before and not faired well. His heart is in the right place, but this race cannot be about ego.
Amy Klobuchar has said she has won 3 statewide races in a row in every debate. So she has demonstrated she can carry Minnesota.
But a quarter of the Senate has been sequentially reelected in their home state 6-8 times - so that isn't much to build a case for electability on.
The winner of the Democratic Primary will be the person who brings the majority of Americans together to oppose Trump.
If millionaires and billionaires are willing to pay more in taxes to save the Republic, safeguard the rule of law, protect the Constitution and democracy, and move the country forward instead of backwards - they should be welcomed, not vilified.
This is a battle for the Republic, requiring all resources, talent, and patriotic Americans.
The American people were able to witness that the Republican controlled Senate will not check this president for the most egregious corruption. Like the Soviet Politburo, they trembled to even bring witnesses to a trial, as the truth was clear.
The only thing checking Trump presently is the next election by the American people.
6
Silly as this may seem, I'd like to thank the Biden supporters for cleaning up and clearing that polling place in Nashua.
Where I live, after any election, regardless if it's a primary or general one or even for dog catcher, campaign signs and posters and everything in between is left on lawns, light poles, and fences for blocks around the polling place - regardless of the politician who was running.
Even though I do not live in Nashua or any where in New Hampshire or Iowa, it's a good feeling knowing and seeing responsible and respectful supporters and volunteers picking up and collecting campaign information.
Recycling is always a positive step in helping the environment.
14
Biden, Bernie, and Trump have significant physical and mental decline and denial issues. Joe must go, Bernie and esp. Trump too. What motivates them is extremist non-team playing political power. The opposite of governing.
“War is not healthy for children and other living things”.
A woman wrote those words in 1967. Trade wars, science + culture wars and real estate wars notwithstanding since.
We seem to always be warring and provocating.
It's not just warring it's the anti-social factions that create bailouts and $iphon economic equality and opportunities. We are not working now.
What motivates them...? Why do they need to...?
7
Joe Biden is 1 month older than I am.
While I am in excellent condition (better than he is) there is no way I would undertake such a demanding position.
Time to retire, Joe !
2
I’m not giving up on Joe Biden yet. I still think he is a decent man and we know what we’re getting. These days, that counts for a lot. To those who believe the Trump lies about Joe Biden, I say, Shame on you. If he doesn’t make it to the NY primaries, I will vote for Bloomberg.
3
I love Joe.
Voted for him twice.
Would do it again if it were 2016.
1
Stay in the fight, Joe!
This country needs a qualified and dignified president.
Stay in the fight and let's let the America that exists outside white, wealthy, activist enclaves have a say in whom to champion against the current disgrace in the White House.
Stay in the fight because in a chaotic world we need a person like Joe Biden to calm the waters and steer the ship of state back in the right direction.
2
I keep hearing about how great Biden is at connecting with voters, but all I remember is my disgust at how he insulted the elderly farmer in Iowa to ask about Hunter Biden, and humiliated the young college student who asked if his loss in Iowa would prove problematic. These incidents happened at town hall meetings whose purpose was for voters to ask questions of the candidate. Biden couldn't keep his cool or keep his mouth shut because, as The Anointed One by the DNC, he suffers from an overwhelming sense of entitlement and is in disbelief that anyone would dare challenge him. Next!
13
I love Joe Biden! He would have made a great president. Sadly, I don’t think his neorons are connecting anymore.
He’ll make a great transition advisor for the democratic nominee.
Go Joe!
3
It's enough, Joe. Your time has passed. Give it up gracefully.
Same for Sanders. Time for a new generation with new ideas.
10
I think most people like Joe Biden; he's a good guy, but, unfortunately, it's becoming more apparent that his time has come and gone. To be brutally honest, he simply has not aged well. It's obvious that he doesn't have the energy and spirit to compete with the other candidates. I find myself holding my breath while he's struggling to finish a speech and stumbling over and confusing words. He noticeably tries to speed it all up and it just makes it worse.
Having been President Obama's vice president is just not enough to pull him through this election. The vision of Joe Biden going toe to toe in a debate with Donald Trump sends chills down my spine. Trump would chew him up and spit him out. All that nonsense about Biden being the candidate Trump fears the most is just one more of Trump's many lies to throw off the competition.
16
Why even talk about him. It's obvious he's not the public's choice..not even close.
4
@Carolyn Egeli - To be fair, he is not the choice of Iowa or New Hampshire voters. That leaves 48 states to go.
Hang it up Joe!
3
The trouble with Biden is his heart is not there. You see a tired man going through the process. You do not excite your base when you do not believe in yourself. Just like Hillary, there is no such thing as your turn. You have to earn the people's support.
10
Mr. Biden is a good and decent man who has served our country well, but when we needed him the most (2016) he was unable to be there for us. His time has passed I believe. As one last act of service and patriotism he should throw all of his support behind one of the other candidates - and the eventual nominee if that candidate does not receive the nomination.
4
Ugh. Results from only two, not particularly representative states can upend candidacies. By the time I can vote in the primary, the result will be already largely decided as candidates will have left the field. We need to rethink our primary system. And perhaps the pundits could stop considering a result in New Hampshire as a death knell. I’m not arguing for Mr. Biden, per se, but rather the circumstances that put this in place.
5
@Karen: The US does not even understand that democratic political parties are private, not public, organizations. The DemoPublican lock on US politics makes these two special parties semi-public, and freezes out all potential competition.
3
Firstly, I’ll definitely vote, and for any of the current candidates. I’d even vote for Bloomberg even though he’s really a Republican, given our current disgrace as POTUS.
I like Joe Biden. I’m glad he is running because he reminds us all that politics can be a dignified arena. However, I’m glad he’s slipping. I don’t think he’s the best candidate this cycle. Putting specific policies and positioning aside for a moment, all of which are relevant, Joe has presented himself as a candidate of the past. He guarantees at least four years quietude in the oval office, recovery, both ideas I appreciate, but he lacks a vision beyond that service.
1
Besides his baggages, Anita Hill, bankruptcy law, Iraq war and many others, that consistently reminding voters especially Democrats that Biden is no friend of the working and middle classes, his performance on the debate stage has been woefully erratic and verbally frustrating. It is a mark contrast with Sanders, who is one year older than Biden. A Biden's presidency would be a continuation of Obama's, a middling presidency lacking in real transformative achievements. It's time for Biden to exit the stage.
@Paul: Bernie's speech jumps around erratically much like Trump's, and his ideas have not evolved or matured since he ran against Hillary in 2016. He hasn't even figured out that public sectors of mixed economies are made to conduct socialism, and claim to know how that is done wisely.
2
What is most surprising is that he has been considered a front runner. That seemed, weirdly, to be only a narrative pursued by the press, which he seems to have channeled. To me he’s always been someone I really like but who has not been on the ball for this particular game at any point.
3
Joe Biden's supporters mostly broke for Amy in NH, not for Bernie.
Bernie got only 26% of the caucus votes in Iowa and in NH he also got only 26% of the votes. A remarkably stable small number. 26% appears to be Bernie's new ceiling even within the Democratic Party. Warren's supporters and Biden supporters gravitated to Amy in NH, not to Bernie. Bernie actually did much more poorly than he did in 2016 when he attracted a much larger 60% of the vote in NH. Apparently 26% support even among Democrats is the new ceiling for Bernie in 2020, down from 60% in 2016. Bernie could not beat Trump in the general election in November 2020 with only 26% of the Democrats supporting him.
3
@David - Ah, so in your scenario Dems will not vote for Bernie if he gets the nomination. And who has gotten higher marks than 26% ?? No one running has gotten 60% so I guess the Dems should just give it up and let Trump have another 4 years.
Mr. Biden is a nice man who clearly lacks the fire in his belly to capture the nomination let alone defeat Trump.
Mr. VP, please work w/ Bloomberg on his campaign. It is the only game on the planet that will be able to defeat Trump.
5
I try to imagine what this campaign has been like for Joe and Jill Biden. The stress has been unimaginable and it shows. He has one living child. Hunter Biden has been maligned for many months, putting Joe in a terrible position. I agree that the optics weren’t good, but corruption? No. There is no evidence of that. This is the latest Benghazi. There is nothing there to uncover, no matter how hard you look. But, Barr will investigate, creating the image that looking yet again will reveal something helpful to Trump.
Trump has won this one. He told lies over and over and finally the lies became a lot of people’s truth. He knew that Joe Biden was beloved - something that he is not. He knew Joe had the experience, the positive image, the goodness and kindness that he himself is sorely lacking. This is the Trump way. Destroy, demean, lie. He is going to get much worse as we get closer to November. Hopefully, some of his fervent followers will see how deeply corrupt and evil he is and the veil will be lifted, but I don’t hold out a lot of hope.
I’m sorry Joe. Life isn’t fair. These last three years show that the good guys don’t always win.
11
@Kathryn
So so true.
1
@Kathryn - sorry, Biden's Ukraine and China shenanigans involving Hunter...those Biden wounds are self-inflicted.
6
@AZPurdue
Biden has been running interference for Hunter and his issues for so long that it's normal for him. But any mother in the public eye who did the same would (rightly) be called 'enabling' and advised to resort to a 'tough love' stance to truly help her child.
1
It’s crazy how Trump broke laws, bribed foreign governments and actually got impeached trying to get rid of a Democratic candidate who wasn’t going to make it past the New Hampshire primary anyway. What’s he going to do when he has real competition?
4
Joe Biden should have stayed in retirement. It is time to turn the party to a new generation of much younger candidates. I like all who are left, except Biden.
Bernie, although as old Biden is, will push back against Trump with equal amounts of crazy.
We need someone with the legislative chops and enough crazy to go against Trump. Biden is not that person.
3
I’m getting the feeling that when the end of the campaign trail comes for Joe Biden, he’ll be relieved as much as anyone.
9
The past three years have left those of us even remotely left of center infuriated beyond words, we do not want more milquetoast centrist nonsense, and your nonsensical statements has us worried about your mental faculties.
Please stand aside and let us bring about meaningful change and/or try to repair the damage Trump has wrought.
4
Joe, I admired you, supported you but your time is gone. You are incoherant, dont have an inspiring agenda, makes jokes or references that crowd finds hard to follow.
So I am saying this to you in all privacy I can, please bow out gracefully and support one of the candidates energeticall with full vigor.
14
Joe Biden is a good guy, a decent, honorable, patriot with vast experience and a conscience. I wanted to vote for him since I thought he could beat Trump. Sadly, I think I was wrong. Mr Biden seems tired, not quite «with it.» His missed opportunities on the campaign trail and in debates have filled me with dread over what might happen if he ever got the nomination. I recall that he didn’t succeed in previous attempts to win the nomination.
At this point, I don’t know whom I’ll choose. I’m not a fan of Bernie Sanders but I WILL vote for him if he’s the nominee. As a bumper sticker read, I’ll vote for «Any functioning adult.»
6
I was also partial to Joe but it's time for him to go. However, in one area we disagree. I would chew off my left arm before I voted for Bernie Sanders. He would raise my taxes 10k a year, and I am hardly rich for where I live. At the end of the day, I predict that many people like me will have no choice. I also won't vote for Trump, because he is a despicable human being. 
1
@VKG
Amy: A Functioning Adult
1
Biden has from day one been running on name recognition only, and about zero retail politics or actual ideas. How many morning, Sunday or late night shows have you seen him on? Practically zero. Compare and contrast that to Buttigieg who's doing the full Ginsburg and is showing up everywhere.
The Biden team's whole strategy has been to shield him from public view on the hopes of being the default choice. Well, that seems to have backfired spectacularly, and his campaign is now totally running out of whatever momentum it once had, largely driven by his established persona and placement in national polls.
His campaign is now out of cash, and will only be able to sustain itself for a very short period of time. Pretty soon we'll start seeing fundraising drying up even more, and staffers jumping ship. No one will keep their bet's on and limping and tired horse.
Running for president is about demonstrating you can build and lead a team that wins elections. It's pretty clear that for the third time, he's failing hard at doing this. Time for Biden to say good bye and claim his place in history as a great VP, but lousy presidential candidate.
I fear that we as a party have failed to understand what’s happening with the electorate. Democrats are the party of the future, Republicans are the party of the status quo, of turning back the clock to “the good old days,” you know, the days when white men owned black people and when women were expected to stand still, be quiet, look pretty.
Like it or not, we do have a real generation gap keeping us divided as a party, and obviously as a country. I’m an early Millennial and I personally feel more connected to my grandparents generation than my parents’ generation. It’s like courage skipped a generation with the Boomers, and I would LOVE for a Boomer to stand up and prove me wrong. Every time I say something negative about Boomers, I am attacked by liberal Boomers who say they’re not like that. Okay then start calling out your generation. Dredge up all the things that made Boomers who they are. Talk about the path that diverged, Republicans taking one, Democrats taking another. Because this is the key.
A Joe Biden is not a Donald Trump. Talk about WHY. If you start talking about WHY, you will find that my generation will eagerly listen. This “OK Boomer” thing we do is not totally fair, I know, but in our defense, you’re not doing a very good job talking about what separates a Democratic Boomer from a Trumpian one.
I love Biden. He has what it takes to be POTUS, but the unity messaging is not on point. Not yet anyway. Bridge the generation gap and you can win.
4
With all due respect to Senator Biden, I do not think that his heart is truly in this campaign. He has served long and honorably.
I hope that Senator Biden will end his campaign and work to elect a Democratic president.
2
And at any rate, Biden lost the race when he failed to respond aggressively to all the attacks on him. That's when he lost me. I never believed the attacks, but I used to believe Biden could stand up for himself.
5
This is what happens when you allow two states unrepresentative of our nation's population to skew election results that produce winners who will have a difficult time attracting widespread voter support and loyalty.
2
New York, California, Florida, Massachusetts and Illinois should all go first, simultaneously. These are good representative states for Democrats. They can choose for the rest of the country. If you live elsewhere you’re not important.
2
William: Florida is Republican and so is Illinois (except for Chicago). Democrats really only have three states (California, New York and Massachusetts) and some territories (Vermont, Chicago, Rhodes Island and New Jersey).
Klobuchar is surging. She was always my fave. Buttigieg has vulnerabilities on the left and right in a general election. I think she can win. Hope she makes it to CA.
3
The Democrats as a party should come up with one clear centrist candidate as soon as possible. If they were able to try to impeach him, then they must be able to come up with a name, and quick. The nature of the beast requires extraordinary measures.
No one is talking about how Trump directed people to vote for the worst candidate. New Hampshire is not a closed primary. How many right leaning independents heard that call? Trump knows full well that Mayor Pete and Klobuchar will be easier to beat.
3
@Charlie Dimster -Yes! Thank you! That has been on my mind. That was a “Russia, are you listening” moment and Trump’s cult following do what he says. I’m surprised that journalists aren’t mentioning this.
2
Nobody can predict who has the best change against Trump. Nobody. He's in a strong position because the economy is good and he has a powerful media arm willing to lie for him. The Democrats don't have that media arm and if Bloomberg started a liberal equivalent of FOX it would fail because liberals aren't interested in being lied to.
Democratic primary voters should stop with the gamesmanship and vote for the candidate that they think can lead the country forward.
2
Romney showed courage and did the right thing
-for God and country
If Biden would drop out of the race and endorse Bloomberg at the same time, such a selfless act would also be nothing short of heroic.
Please do it Joe.
4
Like so many others, I think Joe is a decent man, a skilled politician, and would make an infinitely better president than the orange monster.
But...
Not only does Joe seem often faltering, he comes across as almost frail. That's not going to get any better four years from now.
Time for Joe to step aside replete with our gratitude and respect.
2
He never should have run. He was tentative all along. He started out by promising to be a one-term president and tried to name a running mate who he never even asked.
4
Hindsight is 20/20. Obama did not encourage Joe Biden to run in 2016, and millions assumed that had Joe ran in 2016, he could have gotten the nomination and win against Trump. Now we know that many other candidates, including Sanders and Biden would also have trouble running against Trump.
But if Biden had run and probably won, what would the media have had to talk about and complain about the last three years? Trump’s follies and Schiff’s antics have been entertaining.
The premise and conclusion of the article are flawed. Despite media naratives Warren and Biden are 0/2 out of 50. When the Yankees lose their first two games in April their season is in peril? As Paul Waldman pointed out in the WaPost it takes 1990 delegates to win, Pete has 26...
@John
Biden is finished.
There’s no ‘ there’ there.
Game over.
2
Joe Biden is a nice guy.. and a man of the people for the most part. He is very well known by most, regardless of their personal political views and bias.
But let's be honest here... Joe is well past his prime in terms of politics, an particularly the office of president.
Joe also has a whole lot of career baggage to go with his folksy man of the people persona.
I don't want to see him humiliated by the 2020 primary season.... but it is beginning to look as though this may be the outcome. I honestly wish he had sat this one out.
6
Joe Biden is a statesman and eminently qualified for the presidency. Unfortunately he may be too nice to go up against the vile, wretched, corrupt Trump, who will stop at nothing to undermine his opponent. My heart aches for Joe Biden, who has borne more than his share of loss and sorrow and who deserves the presidency. In any other time he would be a shoe-in. Now, with Democracy in the balance and a callous, vicious, lawless autocrat seeking a second term, we need someone who can punch back at trump with ferocity. God's speed to Joe Biden. He's a mensch.
6
Time to call it quits Joe. Being Obama's Vice President was as good as it's going to get.
2
It's possible I missed it but I have seen no journalist or talking head suggesting that Biden may have been badly tarnished by the whole false Ukraine affair. After all, for a period of about two weeks, his name was negatively associated and tarnished with his son's (even though the son may well have acted foolishly ) re the subject of Barisma by the GOP and their media friends. This must have had an impact on him.
1
In every picture I see of Biden, I see a very tired guy who seems to be wondering, "Why the heck did I take the bad advice of my people that the country was begging for me to ride to the rescue, and how do I get out of here."
7
Trump planted a seed of doubt in voters minds about Joe Biden and Ukraine. It is the same playbook that he did to Hillary Clinton. Don't be fooled.
2
Trump won this round. He sowed just enough doubt to get fence sitters off the fence. People don't want to go through the Ukraine thing for another 9 months...they are done.
2
Look at Biden articles over the years. His problem always has been that he talks too much, is too tangential, and doesn't always make sense. Now he's defending against reasonable questions with 60s John Wayne movie insults. Uh oh...
I don't think Trump n Rudy are to blame for his slippage. He's faltering on his own. Time to go home.
3
Sanders wins his second primary and the top headline and article in the NYTimes is about the guy who came in fifth. And the next piece is about the third place finisher. Then a hit piece on Bernie and Steyer, then an article about how some rich banker thinks Bernie is more polarizing than Trump. Wow.
7
Biden is the Jeb Bush of this election.
5
Sad for Joe, a decent fellow. If indeed he was the popular choice many months ago, he has fallen. That must be related to how he appears on the stage, certainly a presidential type background but doesn't appear presidential at all. His recent call-out to a female college student during a speech was bizarre, whatever it may indicate. Interest in him is supported by media attention but voters are becoming less interested.
2
All the speculation and narratives are saddening. It really isn’t that complicated.
Listening to Mr. Biden’s speech and reading transcripts of his comments, it appears that he may have a form of dementia related to his cardiovascular disease (atrial fibrillation). The relatively rapid decline in his cognitive speech abilities is becoming evident, another sign of disease rather than normal aging. The only confounding factor for me is his history of stuttering, which may be making his speech disorder seem worse than it appears to be.
The only subjective question is whether the man is unaware of his condition (not uncommon) or selfishly unwilling to accept it.
7
The next states' primaries may be much better for J. Biden but the problem is that those southern states will NOT in the presidential elections vote for the democrat.
2
The ticket "Bloomberg + Klobuchar" solves some dilemmas: Enough cash to run a solid campaign to match Trump, media savvy, mixed appeal, no major conflicts.
3
This is the third time that Joe Biden is running for the presidency. He ran unsuccessfully the first two times and now older but apparently not any wiser, is running unsuccessfully again. He seems stuck in the past and unable to move forward into the future. I wish him well but it's time to step aside.
12
Biden has steadily been telling us all that he alone can defeat Trump.
Yet he is consistently finishing in fifth place in Iowa and NH where he should have done far better.
He will not win Nevada and, at this point, South Carolina, his firewall.
This is something that we all need to deal with now rather than later.
He lost two previous campaigns for the nomination and will lose this one, too.
We need to beat Trump and take back the Congress.
On one side we are facing the extreme right and on the other the Socialist left.
The only person who can absolutely destroy both and bring us back to sanity is Mike Bloomberg.
He can and will get it done.
3
Biden ended up being dragged under the wheels of the impeachment bus. Unintentional victim, for sure, but that explains Nancy Pelosi's initial reluctance to move forward with the formal impeachment.
After months of hearing about Hunter Biden in the news, voters turned against Biden.
Trump emerged from the impeachment stronger (headlines of acquitted is what voters will remember months from now) and Biden was mortally wounded (from an election POV, to be exact).
1
The excitement about Bernie is false. He didn't "win" Iowa or, as the press thinks, NH. Nor did Pete who got one more Iowa delegate and tied Bernie for delegates in NH. Both received approximately 25% of the predominantly white vote in each state. You don't "win" a state without having a clear majority of the vote and the delegates.
To date there has been no "winner," which is fine. Joe, however, has fallen into loser status from which he will not recover. That's not good news for Bernie, because Joe's supporters, whose numbers are pretty big, aren't going to switch to him. It's actually bad news because they will go for the candidate who can beat Trump.
That person, the smartest, shrewdest candidate, didn't make his fortune without thinking out of the box. Following Joe's defeat, Mike's timing in getting endorsements from black leaders is perfect and it will grow with blacks and other minorities who have good reason to fear an unhinged Trump. He's getting this support because in the past he supported them, they know he's with them on important issues and they trust him.
As the results show, those who campaigned in Iowa and NH followed a beaten path to nowhere. Mike, who focused on the big picture, is going to get his money's worth on Super Tuesday.
1
He lost 2 previous attempts at running for president. Why does he think those reasons have gone away.
6
Warren has more to be concerned about than Biden at this point. Biden has states coming up that have the ability to ramp up his campaign. Warren really only has Massachusetts to look forward to.
1
Trump's Ukraine ploy worked. Biden was discredited. As angry as it makes me, we must recognize this basic fact. Trump did not want to face Biden. Now he won't.
While I did not support Biden, I regret that his departure from the race comes under these circumstances. Biden deserved better.
The positive to take from this is to double-down on picking a candidate who can end the threat Trump poses to our country, then pour money and time into the campaign so that even the Russians can't tip it to Trump.
2
Biden should stay in the fight. Iowa and New Hampshire do not reflect the diversity of the party.
4
This obit is a tad premature.
First of all, we have results from two small, unrepresentative states. In any other year, the New Hampshire primary with two next door senators in the running would have been ignored by everybody as a favorite son contest. Iowa is a bad punch line - let's see if they can get rid of that ultra-biased caucus process and move to a primary before we ever consider them as a first out of the box venue again!
Secondly, and MOST importantly, it seems the entire Democratic electorate has taken leave of their collectives senses. The single, most critical, sphere where Trump has inflicted the most damage to the country is in our foreign relations. Biden is the ONLY candidate in the field with serious foreign policy experience and the ONLY candidate with a deep "Rolodex" of contacts and relationships among our allies extending back decades - and Yes - that still matters. The rest of the candidates are all great potential cabinet officers but seriously President? I think not.
2
Joe's problem is that he's never been challenged politically. A safe Delaware senate seat and a cushy V.P. job have made him soft.
I have also been surprised how conservative he really is. He keeps saying that as president he could get the GOP to work with him when as V.P. for eight years the GOP refused anything Obama wanted.
This is blindness.
6
Vice President Biden's fifth-place finish is likely the effect of Trump's dirty political campaign to undermine Vice President Biden's chances.
Trump's behavior is dangerous to us all, except for the unreasonably rich who only care about what they want when they want it; who waste what their money can by all the time.
I certainly hope that Vice President Biden can rebound and recover. If he cannot, I know he will be there for the sake of our American democracy.
Never forget that Trump is very dangerous !
1
For the past week or so I've seen several Bloomberg ads featuring videos of President Obama. Since I assume these ads were done with President Obama's consent it makes me question the level of support Joe Biden actually has from the former POTUS. Will the African American voters that Biden needs so badly start thinking the same thing?
2
So for way less than $390 million, the Democrats accomplished what Trump couldn't. Take that.
1
Pete Buttgieg, the current leader, has a whopping 23 of the 1,991 delegates needed to secure the nomination. His lead over Joe Biden is 17 with 48 states still to hold elections. Bernie Sanders "won" New Hampshire with 25.7% of the vote. No matter the candidate, a minimum of 3 out of 4 Democrats in New Hampshire want someone else. No one is doing well.
I'm not writing this in support of Joe Biden; I'm making the point that Iowa and New Hampshire don't matter in 2020 the way they did in 1980. This election doesn't start until Super Tuesday.
11
@Chuck Thomas People are prematurely counting Biden out. His strongest states are coming up.
2
When Obama said "Joe, you really don't have to do this", Biden and whoever is enabling him, should have recognized that was the most compassionate and kind way of pointing a flashlight on the writing on the wall.
There are very clear signs of cognitive decline. This ins't ageism, this is about being responsible.
Nothing will improve unless Trump is removed from office, and the only real path for that to happen is a strong Bloomberg ticket. Not only is Mike by far the most qualified contender in terms of accomplishments, he is also the strongest coalition builder... America needs that right now. Mike is earning endorsements from an increasingly diverse field of high-profile, high-impact leaders, and he's as committed as he is capable of improving the USA for all citizens.
25
If Amy or Pete gets the nomination, it will be critically important for the Bernie folks to show up at the polls this time; if they give a hoot about the future of the country, they will.
17
@Huge Grizzly
Bernie got cheated out of the nomination last time. This is his turn. It's critically important to support Bernie, not tell his supporters what to do.
1
Likewise for Amy and Pete’s backers of Bernie gets the nod.
3
“Cheating” does not account for Bernie receiving four million fewer votes in the 2016 primaries than Clinton. No more conspiracy theories!
1
Frankly I am relieved that Biden isn't going to be our nominee. His long track record is mixed and lacks any meaningful contributions. Most importantly the purpose of his run wasn't clear. Maintaining Obama like policies was hardly a reason to run. His son's involvement with Ukraine oil companies was at best bad optics and at worst a symptom of entitlement/corruption (no comparison to Trump and family corruption which is off the charts). Overall a fitting end to a muddled campaign and muddled life in the public sphere.
22
Why does the 6th largest economy in the world (California) with the largest number of Democrats in the country, with (arguably) the most diverse population not get a say in this?
Iowa and New Hampshire ARE NOT representative of the Democratic voice in this country!
17
@Peter Jones
They do get a say... their turn will come. The DNC is free to change the order of the primaries. It's just tradition.
1
@Peter Jones
They do. They will have a Primary just as New Hampshire and the rest of the 50 states that represent The United States. They also, because of their population have an outsized number of delegates (450). So don't fear Peter Jones: you will have your say.
1
@Peter Jones California gets a day in early March on Super Tuesday. California holds the largest delegate count. It’s a bit presumptuous to pretend that California is left out.
1
Biden has had more votes this year than he did the other years he ran for President, so really in a way he'll be quitting while he's ahead, a personal best of sorts.
Yet, Now that the truth is so clear in the numbers we have to ask, why is the media so clueless? Were the tales of his great popularity intentional disinformation?
He was never particularly popular. He was and is a lackluster DNC Party Hack. It was the same with Clinton — an endless parade of articles about how people loved her with everyone out there in the dark scratching their heads and saying Uh... no.
Now for a quick minute we're all being told we want to know more about Kloubachar, we find her fascinating we are told. Uh... no.
It will be Sanders vs Trump because Bernie really is popular and that has been clear for a long time. The more you tear down Bernie, the more you strengthen Trump.
18
@Arthur The Republicans, I believe, are praying that Sanders is the candidate. They have enough dirt on his past that it will be a bloodbath. Sanders will ensure, again, that we have no chance of winning this year.
3
Joe, thanks for your lifetime of service. We ask one more thing to ask of you. Bow out, now.
There is no way you're going to win the Democratic nomination. The sooner you recognize that and bow out, the sooner some other moderate can jump to the fore. Be it Buttigieg, Klobuchar, or Bloomberg. The longer you stay in, the less likely any moderate will take the Democratic nomination, the more likely Sanders will, and the more likely we will have four more years of Trump.
12
Joe Biden will be the Democratic Nominee.
The liberal wing of the Democratic Party is out in full force in 2020, but that will not be enough to get Democrats to move into a huge commune and reap the benefits(?) of letting the Government bestow their largess on us, while at the same time, making us give every dime we have to the Government for letting us share and share alike in the commune.
Democrats want to pay their own way in life, make their own life decisions, and in no way want to be on the public dole. Democrats believe in social programs where they are allowed to pay into social security, medicare, unemployment insurance, etc. which are huge insurance programs. When we quality, we draw down, based on how much we put in. The larger the insurance pool, the more benefits we get.
That is not welfare, but what Sanders, Warren and other left leaning socialists want is for us to become welfare recipients.
Democrats will straighten them out, in what appears to be later in the process, rather than sooner.
When states let Independents and Republicans vote in Democratic primaries, we will experience set-backs, but in the end, Biden and the Democratic moderates will win.
Count on it.
3
It would help if he were to actually win some delegates. He’s basically dead last.
@Andy
I found a very good article on where the Democratic Nominating process is now. Here is an extract of that article:
To give you a sense of how small the two states whose results we’re making such a big fuss over are, in 2016 there were just over 31 million primary votes cast by Democrats. Iowa and New Hampshire accounted for about 425,000 of them, or 1.4 percent. There’s no reason to believe the relative proportions will change this year, which means that between 98 and 99 percent of Democrats haven’t yet had the chance to vote.
I'm not worried - yet.
@scvoter Biden will be the nominee? Great!!!
Sincerely,
Donald Trump
1
When he decided not to run 4 years ago because he was mourning Beau, he probably missed his moment but confirmed his humanity.
19
Joe Biden needs to end his campaign and go home.
The time has come for Bernie Sanders and Nordic style democratic socialism.
This will not end capitalism it will just serve to make capitalism responsible to more than the plutocrats.
9
@Richard From Massachusetts If Sanders wins then we will get more of the same gridlock. Republicans aren’t going to vote for his policy proposals and neither will the moderate Democrats. 4 years of getting nothing done.
Biden is obviously not the same man who destroyed Paul Ryan in the VP debate 8 years ago. He seems irritated and confused when asked a question. He would be absolutely destroyed by Trump so we can be grateful he's fading so dramatically.
21
I agree with your points about Biden, but not about Trump. Trump is not same man he was four years ago, and I thought he was terrible in those debates. He has undergone a marked decline since then. Trump won’t be destroying anyone in the debates. I doubt he’ll even agree to a debate this year.
4
Thought it was impossible for someone to run a worse campaign than HRC but was obviously wrong. He's got nothing, not one issue that anyone identifies with him to separate him from the other candidates other than his association with Obama. Vote for me and everything's gonna be fine isn't a campaign, it's laziness.
That didn't work for her and it won't work for him. Their arrogance is beyond belief but at least he will not be nominated. Quite possibly the worst presidential campaigner in Democratic history. George Wallace ran better campaigns.
11
I live in Alabama with a lot of black voters, and I just don't see a lot of support for Biden among those voters. I think it's a media-generated myth that black voters are going to vote as a block for Biden just because he was Obama's VP. Black folks like different candidates for different reasons, just like white folks do, and I predict their vote will be split between the various candidates just like the white vote will. If there had been a black candidate on the ballot, it might be a different story.
16
Pelosi destroyed Biden by impeaching Trump. Pelosi's and Democrats' action magnified an allegation against Biden which made the people uncomfortable to support Biden. So, the allegation against Trump that he abused his power for his personal political benefit backfired against Biden and it actually helped Biden's political rivals. How will they pay back Trump for helping them to defeat Biden in the primary? Should there be any consequences for them for taking advantage of the alleged political misuse by Trump?
2
Joe is a weak and indecisive candidate with no sense of timing. He is undeserving of the office. The year he should have run, he made the poor decision NOT to; and, correspondingly, the year he should NOT have run, he jumped in.
6
Time to say good bye. Joe Biden offered more of Obama as did Clinton most working folks didn’t do so well during Obama’s eight years. The Democrats are in big trouble which means we are in big trouble. Bloomberg has plenty of baggage and he was a Republican for most of his life. And do we really want someone to try to buy the election?
Shame on Tom Perez and the DNC for such a poor job of selecting and supporting a strong candidate to defeat Trump.
4
It is ironic that Biden sees SC as his saving grace. The state has not voted for a Democrat since 1976, when Jimmy Carter was from neighboring Ga. Who cares who wins the SC Democratic primary?
8
Thanks for further proof that the last priority Trump ever had since becoming President is having to dig up dirt on Joe Biden; he's clearly irrelevant to Trump's reelection.
2
My fear is that, just like Hillary, the Republican disinformation campaign is causing fatigue about "The Bidens".
In 2016 people that were reliable but not very well-informed Democrats were asking me if there was "something wrong with Hillary". The press had overexposed the (stupid) email issue , and she simply lost her luster.
1
I'm so tired of the endless parade of commentary about Biden's strength and Buttigieg or Klobuchar's weakness with "communities of color."
As if one's melanin levels indicate whether we can see or hear the relative incoherence of Biden. We can all see what's going on. Sure we're grateful for Biden's lifetime of service, but his campaign is exposing flaws that make him look less and less like the candidate who can defeat the incumbent.
Also, Iowa went for Obama in 2008 so enough with the "this early voting/caucusing state isn't diverse enough." The top two candidates in the Democratic IA caucuses recently have been a black man, a white woman, a jewish man, and a gay man.
It's over for Biden. People can see that regardless of the color of their skin. The early voting states are awarding candidates of multiple ethnicities, genders, creeds, and sexual prefrences.
14
Can we stop with the polling now? Clearly it isn’t an indicator of anything.
3
Biden is like a superstar athlete who 'retired' at the culmination of a great career but returned for a second shot only to tarnish his reputation. It's time to go, Joe.
8
"Both Mr. Buttigieg and Ms. Klobuchar have so far shown little ability to appeal to voters of color...."
Too many "voters of color" failed to vote in 2016, especially in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pa, and now they have Two racist Trump judges on the Supreme Court. And elsewhere.
It's hard for me to care about "voters of color" when they care so little for themselves.
1
@David Henry "Voters of color" are important because they provided the margin for Democrats winning in such states as Virginia and Nevada and regions such as Orange County, California. Some of the growth in population in these states are overwhelmingly by people of color.
My family has seen this firsthand: in Virginia, over many years, D candidates started visiting Chinese/ Vietnamese/ Indian strip malls to talk to people living in those neighborhoods. Similarly, we saw that in CA. It was not an easy slog but those types of efforts are why those regions turned blue.
@ms I don't disagree, but when anyone votes (or doesn't vote) against their interests I can't be empathetic.
Guys, centrism was never going to win against trump! We learned this lesson in 2016
3
His moment was 2016, but he gave it to Hillary, and of course he was still mourning his son's death.
He's a good guy, but for the sake of beating Trump, he has to bite the bullet, get out and get behind either Amy or Mike.
4
There's a remarkable profile of Joe Biden in George Packer's book "The Unwinding." Packer interviewed a former staffer who worked for Biden over decades. The profile depicted Biden - over decades - as a selfish man who abused his staff by calling them expletives, who rarely if ever thanked any of his staffers for their work and who couldn't be counted on for any loyalty - even after years working hard for him.
One of the main points in the article is how little Biden cared about raising money, considering it beneath him and something to be fobbed off on other staffers. Once on the road a young staffer in the car with Biden presented Biden with a list of 5 names he needed to call for donations. Biden said to the young staffer "Get the - - - - out of my car."
5
I think this could be reported with less sensational headlines unless you are intentionally are trying to feed the idea that Joe Biden can’t survive...
I love the Times but I think you need to take a page from the WSJ. Headlines don’t need to be emotionally charged.
2
Throw in the towel and save us the embarassment
5
Has everybody forgotten how many states there are in the Union?
How is it possible to predict an outcome to this race when only two of them had elections, and only one had a real primary?
Forget all the polls and pundits and let the voters decide.
2
@N. Smith
That is almost beside the point. Biden is very low on money. According to reports his fundraising acumen is poor and people and, frankly, rich corporations, pacs, etc. do not want to throw their money away on a candidate on the decline. Whether there are so many states left has no relevance here. Money, unfortunately, rules. Those that win primaries or come in a close 2nd or third (but strong) will get the financial support they need. When people hear that a candidate barely tried they are a whole lot less inclined to donate.
Sadly, Joe is toast and he doesn't seem to know it yet.
If the goal is to not allow Sanders to win the primary with 30% of the vote, some of more moderate candidates are going to have to start dropping out, allowing support to consolidate among someone remaining. Barring a very good showing in South Carolina, Biden is now the logical one to be the first.
4
I like Joe. However, his campaign is basically a debacle. I feel sorry for Joe but I have real concerns about the Democratic Party. The message was pounded loud and clear that Joe was the one to beat Trump. Well, where did that come from. Was it something that filtered up from the Democratic base or was it an opinion that came down from the party hierarchy.
In this time of Trump, if the party powers attempted to make the decision for the rest of us, well, I object to that. The party is not the few officials who are there to keep the process orderly (failed there too). The party is the 50% of voters who vote for Democratic candidates. The primaries are to allow the voters to choose between individuals who are put forward by the party or choose to run. The primaries are not a process to anoint the favored insider by the party officials and leaders of failing unions.
When the party apparatus tries to weigh the outcome by either lobbying for a particular candidate or manipulating the rules to favor a particular candidate they engender backlash that is bad for the overall cause. Unfortunately that happened in the last presidential cycle when the match up to Trump should have been Sanders and not Clinton. Now it is more nebulous but thankfully it will not be Biden.
Despite the image that we were fed, it turns out that time has passed Joe by. We are now in the unique position where the voters may actually be able to choose the direction of the party for the future.
7
@KR Could be 1968 all over again. The history of that convention should be required reading for everyone.
Like many, I saw who the real winners were in last night's NH primary — and today's tally came to 34.9% for Sanders and Warren vs. 52.6% for Buttigieg, Klobuchar and Biden. Add Bloomberg to the centrist mix and it seems clear which side will rule the day at the July convention in Milwaukee.
4
Biden totally botched this New Hampshire-to-South-Carolina pivot thing. It's sort of like telling your mistress to wait because you're with your wife then telling your wife you need to go because your mistress is calling. Come on Joe. There must be a penny worth of thoughts rattling around up there somewhere.
3
He's got a new nickname. Joe Bye-Done.
10
"a devastating outcome"?
Not a great outcome, for sure, and not one that bodes well. But "devastating"?
That's a little extreme, based on 1 (bug-ridden) caucus and 1 primary, and in 2 states with about 2% of the total electoral votes, and moreover states with few non-whites and histories of unusual primary voting, which often has little to to with ultimate outcomes or the nation as a whole.
Why the rush to judgement in the media? In both this case, and in many others.
Someone is declared the "clear favorite" or "preemptive front-runner," based on a few polls and some talking heads' comments. Then suddenly, they're toast. There seems to be no moderate, balanced, presentation and analysis.
And as context for New Hampshire, Sanders is from Vermont and Warren is from Massachusetts. Clearly (and historically), those local connections count in primaries and often tend to skew results in a given primary.
4
Articles like this really do a disservice to Joe Biden,Elizabeth Warren and other candidates.
We've had just two primaries, in tiny homogeneous states (one which barely managed to deliver results) yet many are sounding the death knell for Biden and Warren campaigns.
How about we see the outcome of Super Tuesday just 20 days away? Those results will be far more indicative of the candidates' futures.
11
@Shaun
Candidates are supposed to make their case for election before the primaries begin. It does them no good to make the case after the primaries begin. Politics 101.
I love Joe and have supported him. However, I will likely not vote for him on Super Tuesday and it's certainly not because of the Ukraine misinformation campaign. Tt's because he's running a bad campaign on the ground. The silver lining in his campaign is that he has distracted Trump from attacking other candidates and a long open field will do the same. I think Klobuchar has a small chance and Bloomberg has a very real chance. I will see what happens in SC.
7
Joe doesn't need to go.
The Iowa caucuses need to go!
Joe is a national treasure.
He's ready to be president on Day 1.
7
Joe should have won NH hands down. He had a terrible campaign and generated zero enthusiasm among voters, placing a distant 5th. He is toast.
6
Biden's response to questions about his role in Ukraine was disappointing. It was "Don't lose focus, focus should be on Trump!" Why deflect, when the facts were on Biden's side (the prosecutor's firing sought by Biden was sought by all Western lenders)? A core part of running against Trump is handling such attacks, and Biden just didn't do a good job of it.
He also failed to acknowledge that people who struggle to make a living resent the fact that Biden's son gets generous job offers based on his name. If he had said that, at the time of dealing with one son's death, he was not in a state to restrain another, people might understand. But refusing to even acknowledge the people's basic resentment of the situation turns people off.
15
Vi President: Please accept our gratitude for your years of service, I am very grateful for your commitment to the country. Now, please end your campaign and take Gabbard, Patrick and Steyer with you. Mr. Bloomberg, if you're listening, we need your support for the non-billionaire candidates so please suspend your campaign, too, then let's cull the field and select someone who can unite the polarized ends of the party and bring hope, kindness and inclusion to the country.
7
People,
Please remember that Bernie won New Hampshire and did well in Iowa last time as well but he did NOT win the nomination. Biden will start rolling soon and then all these pundits will change their tune and start singing his praises. Just you wait. Problem with Democrats is that they are so emotionally unstable!
2
Yes, because Hillary winning the nomination worked out so well in 2016. Biden would fare far worse than Clinton against Trump.
3
According to a doc on tv last night, Muhammed Ali couldn't quit either, though in his later years he was again and again beaten up so badly in the ring. Joe Biden, perhaps just as great a human being in his own way as Muhammed Ali, has always fought his very best for his beloved country - all to often without much appreciation, and lately to be targeting by the president in a way that is truly beyond disgusting. Whether Joe stays in the race or gets out - he's more than earned the right not to be second guessed.
@Leigh
Millions of people worldwide still idolize Muhammed Ali, a great champion and world-class fighter for civil rights.
You're overselling Joe Biden.
Given that his former Republican colleagues are gleefully “investigating” Biden and his son, I’d say his ability to work with those across the aisle means very little. It’s a sad state of affairs.
3
@Lauren The sad state of affairs is a GOP congress, the AG and the Treasury Dept willing to look the other way as Trump destroys lives.
2
Biden did a good job for Obama. He should have left on that high point. Biden's campaign epitomizes the highs and lows of his erratic past performance. Too big to ignore, too weak to ignite.
3
Yeah but! Just like the 2016 Repugnant maelstrom, the name of the game is no longer establishment politics but a hint of progressive power assertions to rototill the fallow business-as-usual unproductive field of do nothing politicians.
Joe Biden's previous two quests to occupy the Oval Office of the White House infamously crashed and burned on takeoff before Iowa in 1988 and after New Hampshire in 2008.
After further floundering in Iowa and New Hampshire Joe's third attempt in 2020 is going onto Nevada and South Carolina then ?
Kamala Harris and Julian Castro were forced to drop out after being attacked for their being primary debate ' mean' to Joe while younger blacker and browner than he will ever be.
3
The polls tell one story, but early in a campaign, the future can be predicted in excitement and attendance at rallies.
That can be faked, but not purchased. Biden never had it.
3
I am exhibiting all symptoms of desperation as a centrist. I support Warren, but when Biden announced, I was immediately excited for his ability to unite. Watching him closely on TV however, particularly his non-response to the republican effort to tar and feather him using Hunter, started raising my concerns. This is America; taking things lying down has doomed a lot of good candidates (see Gore, see Kerry). Then when he opened his mouth, it was an impatient old man saying "why isn't it obvious to you that I am god-sent?" The quivering voice, the loss of connection between short term memory being retrieved and words spoken - began to get the better of him. I wish him a happy retirement with my deep gratitude and appreciation for his 8 year service as Obama's wing man, for leading an exemplary life, for a lifetime of service to the country (although I could not forgive him for attacking Anita Hill). Have a good rest of your life Unc Joe, but now get off the stage. Please. Cheers.
5
It’s going to be Buttigieg and a carefully selected person of color as his running mate, and they will lose. The party just has no life in it. Trump broke their backs.
5
Time will tell. However, President Obama has not endorsed Biden. Big downer.
I don't see Bernie winning unless Trump is in prison, but Sanders has some fire burning (as does Trump.) Joe doesn't look a day over 90 and seems to strain in today's Trumpworld of malarkey.
6
Does this mean they'll call off the Ukrainian investigation into the Bidens? Maybe they'll launch one into Bernie Sanders and his shenanigans with the Ukrainian government, or Elizabeth Warren and her shady deals with Ukraine. And let's not forget about Mayor Pete! I'm sure if the Ukrainian government works hand in hand with America's Mayor, Rudy, they'll find all kinds of stuff on him. They might as well launch investigations into anyone and everyone in the race for the Democratic nomination. AG Barr won't mind at all.
3
It is time for Joe Biden to gracefully fold his tent and go home. He has done well, but life and time has caught up with him.
5
The biggest problem of the Biden campaign is Joe Biden. And that’s no malarkey.
7
There is a real struggle for the future of the Democratic Party going on, with strong proponents of the center-right and the left making cogent arguments for their sides. Biden is tired and irrelevant at this point, an old man wheezing out weird "pony-soldier" insults at would-be supporters. Just go home, Joe.
6
This is the political equivalent of watching joe Montana finish his career with the chiefs. It’s time for Joe Biden to hang up his cleats.
4
Country music has an answer to almost every question, sometimes even the right one.
You got to know when to hold em
Know when to fold em,
Know when to walk away
Know when to run.
DON SCHLITZ The gambler.
6
It's frustrating that the coverage of the results of New Hampshire not mention the fact that Elizabeth Warren beat Joe Biden. There's this article, and then lots of mentions of the top 3, but where's Warren in the NYTimes coverage? While I support Biden's years of service, I do believe he's on the way out, whereas Elizabeth is in a better position to keep going. Surely there's a newsworthy angle here to compare their standings instead of just focusing on Biden?
2
Warren may have beaten Biden in NH but she still got trounced! Which is an indicator of just how badly Biden performed.
3
Biden still has a big chance. This is only the second primary. I have to wonder about anybody who is writing that Biden should bow out so soon. Are they Russian trolls, or people hired by the Republican party? There is really bad interference in this election already. It is worse than 2016. The Dems have to win the White House and Senate. The dark money has to end and Russia has to be dealt with.
2
Simple solution: Joe can bow out - to spend more time with family.
1
Perhaps a plarform of "I am the only one who can beat Trump" and "I was Obama's Veep!" isn't sufficient to attract Democratic voters. I have yet to hear any original or new policy positions from Joe. I want to beat Trump but honestly, just being 'not trump' isn't good enough. It feels too much like Hillary and the 'my turn' mentality.
16
Say it ain't so, Joe. Enjoy your retirement. Now.
7
The demise of Biden is sad on many levels, and not surprising.
Democrats must be prepared for great gobs of mud to be thrown at any candidate who runs in any race, especially those who are polling well.
Trump wants to pick the Democratic nominees, and we know by now that he never plays by the rules.
Please read the article in The Atlantic, "The Billion-Dollar Disinformation Campaign to Reelect the President", to get an idea of what lies ahead.
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2020/03/the-2020-disinformation-war/605530/
5
I don't think "malarkey" helped him much.
11
Take the hint Joe and go enjoy your family.
5
I have nothing but the greatest respect for Mr. Biden. Just the tragedies that this man has endured and yet stayed strong in the face of them should be enough to earn him a golden statue, say. But he is not the man the take on DJT, and that has absolutely nothing to do with his capabilities. Biden's problem: he is too kind and too nice (imagine that: kindness and niceness as problems; this is how low we have sunk in America on the eve of the third decade of the 21st century). Mr. Biden will just not go into the gutter with DJT, nor should he b/c DJT isn't even worthy of shining Mr. Biden's shoes. This time, and for once, Mr. Biden should leave that job to someone who is not only ready and willing to roll with DJT in the gutter, but also to knock him silly.
4
I think Biden’s recent slide has less to do with Hunter and Burisma than it has to do with his personality and age. Recently he asked a woman at a rally if she had ever been to a caucus before. When she said “yes,” he flew off the handle, calling her a liar and a “dog-faced pony show.” Sorry, Joe. We don’t want you.
16
I thought Biden called the woman a “dog faced pony show,” messing up the phrase “dog and pony show.” Many people have already stated here that he called her a “dog faced pony soldier,” which I find even more confusing. What the heck does that mean? Was it an insult during the Civil War?
10
@Ben - sounds like Biden's message is perfect...for nursing homes.
2
Biden could have done a quid pro quo on the Right He should have said he and son Hunter would be happy to testify if Bolton and Nunez also has to, The Dems always seem unable to land a counter punch.Playing by the Marquis of Queensbury rules don’t work when you are dealing with the Mob called The Republican Party. If any candidate going up against Trump is November isn’t ready to go for the kneecaps they should not run, Trump is going to go to the mud and anyone not willing to get in the mud and scrape it out will lose. Going high when Trump is sawing your knee caps off is a sucker play.
1
Your time was 2016, Joe. Now it is way too late...
Go home and be a family man.
3
Time for a Bloomberg Biden tie-up?
1
@Jeff
Bloomberg/Klobuchar
Dump Trump 2020
1
@Jeff Biden is done. Time of retirement for Biden. Bloomberg definitely will need a running made. Amy or Pete are good alternatives.
If the moderates continue to split the votes as they did in NH, Bernie will get the nomination. (Unless we end up with a brokered convention where delegates for Klobuchar, Buttigieg, and likely Bloomberg are able to consolidate behind one of those candidates.)
If Bernie gets the nomination, Trump will get re-elected.
Wake up America. November is coming up fast.
3
Joe Biden has my thanks for his service. But, he is no longer ready to be the democratic nominee, let alone president. His staying in the race will hurt what he represents - and the candidates that appeal to the center-left.
I support Mike Bloomberg to be the democratic nominee. He has the right priorities, has a record of actually putting his money where his mouth is, and has the administrative experience to run a competent centrist administration this country badly needs. That he has the resources to compete and win against Trump is a very important matter, as a second term for Trump will make the first look like a picknick.
In the event of Bloomberg failure, I'd support Klobuchar and Butigieg, in that order. But, Biden needs to get out - as his continuation only helps Bernie Sanders. Bernie is closest to where my heart is, but he will lose in a landslide and cause down ballot disaster in the process.
5
Trump's greatest fear was Biden. Now it's Bloomberg (who was _way_ more successful in business than Trump and Trump's "success" in business is one of his supposed claims to fame).
Trump's dream candidate to run against is Sanders because he (well, his campaign) can beat Sanders in his sleep just by running ads that are 100% clips of Sanders speaking except for the "I'm Donald Trump and I approve this message" tag line at the end.
Primary voters need to keep this in mind...
6
Biden’s year was 2016, but instead he chose to inhibit democracy and stood down, like everyone else except senator sanders, to clear the way for the coronation of hillary clinton. pretty sure he would be president today if he ran in 2016. i don’t feel sorry for him now that he failed to recognize and seize his opportunity in 2016. and he, clinton and the DNC are to blame for Trump being president because they stifled and tried to control the democratic process in 2016. i can never forgive them.
12
With all due respect to Joe Biden, a truly decent guy that has been slandered by trump and the GOP who seem to have no problem with trump's grifter children making bank off their own status as presidential offspring, needs to step aside. We need someone that can win. I think Bloomberg can take Texas. With Texas we could win. I am an anybody but trump voter. I want my country and my state back from the right wing. I do no like Sanders and will hold my nose to vote for him. Hopefully his supporters will do the same. And Bloomberg is NOT a racist. We all know the racist is living in the White House right now and that man has got to go.
4
He does not have the will to fight for the nomination and therefore should gracefully bow out. I am afraid he entered the campaign thinking he was the rightful heir apparent and he discovered he was expected to fight for it and he lost interest.
Further, Trump was effective in his attack on his son Hunter. Hunter did indeed take advantage of his family name when joining the Board of Barisma for big bucks. Shame on the Bidens' and maybe even Obama for letting it happen.
The good news is the Democrats have several candidates better than Trump and with good fortune he will be removed through the ballot box.
1
Perhaps the bulk of the party finally is trying to move beyond the past in order to survive. Perhaps those in the party looking backwards will still show up in numbers in the parts of the country less engaged with national politics and the direction of the party will remain undefined. I suspect it will not end well for those overtaken by time but unwilling to step aside and cheer others on.
2
Sorry, but 2020 is definitely no time for a Joe Biden (for reasons already well-called by other commenters here). He should cut and run sooner than later to avoid complete humiliation, more nonsense from the Trumpers, and to help the Democrats more quickly coalesce.
1
Well, we haven't seen the black vote yet which overwhelmingly favors Biden. Warren is toast - Americans can spot a phony a mile away. Amy is rising...but too little too late. I think Sanders might be the guy. I don't agree with any of his socialism policies but he is real and likable and truly believes what he says.
2
@Jerome Americans can spot a phony a mile away? So how do you explain the election of Trump?
5
Over and over I keep reading that Joe Biden is the best candidate because he's centrist. I disagree. If predominately white middle America Iowa and New Hampshire weren't impressed with him, the rest of the country won't be either. He barely even registered in those states. He was Obama's VP. So what? He needs to compete on him, not what he was to somebody else years ago. Obama didn't even endorse him. And Trump is an extremist himself. It's time we fight back hard and stop acting so afraid of pitting strong competition against him.
2
Joe feels entitled, hates criticism, and is too conservative. Sound familiar?
Worse for me STILL was Biden's inept handing of the Anita Hill hearings, which stuck America with Clarence Thomas, the worst SC judge in history.
I also can't shake Joe providing the GOP
with a political opening with the Hunter Biden affair. He seems to possess a political tin ear. Any savvy politician would have foreseen trouble, especially if he had plans to run for president.
Perhaps I expect too much, but that's how I feel.
10
@David Henry
The profile of Hunter Biden in the July issue of The New Yorker was so damning and portrayed Hunter as such a vulnerable mess that after reading it, I assumed Joe Biden would be too concerned for his son's welfare to run for president and expose Hunter to so much harsh media scrutiny.
I was wrong.
4
@fast/furious I agree. But unfortunately Joe is unable to perceive how Hunter's many problems are received by the general public and that denial is probably Joe's tragic character flaw.
1
To think of all the hassle Trump went through over Biden...
Now he’ll have to start over from scratch and dig dirt on Sanders, Mayor Pete and Klobuchar.
1
Walter Mondale, redux. And yes, end the campaign.
4
Biden is a "former Vice President ....with deep relationships across the party and a lengthy roster of endorsements". Im sure all that is true. Nevertheless, he got "his drum" "beat". What he needed was a deep relationships and endorsements from the people. He never formed a relationship outside of the upper elite. Thats why he got whupped. Democracy is alive and well in the U.S.!
Once again, just goes to show you how wrong the polls can be.
1
Has anyone figured out that Trump won - he got Biden to drop to the bottom because of all that nonsense about his son. He won. And he didn't get thrown out of office for doing it.
1
@Armen Pandola Trump didn't do that. Biden was a weak candidate. He most likely eliminated himself.
8
The Democratic Party set itself up for this type of problem when it changed the primary system in the 1980s. The decision to front-load the primary schedule was a blatant attempt to give an advantage to a candidate with name recognition and support of big donors, so that there'd be a de facto nominee by March.
Party elders got a shock when, despite this rushed schedule, Mondale couldn't beat back Hart's challenge until June of 1984. The establishment got its desired nominee, who got crushed in November.
Rather than learn its lesson, the party has doubled down over the years by front-loading the process even further. More states are jockeying to hold primaries early to have greater influence in choosing a nominee. Even California has moved its primary from June to March.
This rushed process takes power away from the people and increases the influence of Big Money. It is flawed.
Biden got in the race because he thought he had a built-in advantage, and likely some other credible moderates stayed out for the same reason. Now, when Biden (quite predictably) fails in his third quest for the nomination, there doesn't appear to be a strong moderate alternative.
We need to go back to a longer and more competitive process, one that gives voters more time to become acquainted with candidates and a challenger a chance to build momentum. That’s more likely to produce a viable consensus candidate. Give power back to the people.
2
I really like Joe Biden. With the benefit of hindsight, Biden should have had a clear, strong, coherent, centrist message focusing on public option, strong social security and Medicare, Green New Deal creating jobs, voting rights, etc. I think his campaign has gotten better. Bloomberg may, or may not, end up being a positive force in the campaign. I do not believe he will be the nominee. At this point, I see the moderates splitting the votes, and Bernie winning, and ultimately getting the nomination. Joe’s natural time was in 2016. Hillary was a mistake of colossal proportions. All Democrats need to accept as nominee whoever the people choose, and wholeheartedly support the nominee.
3
Former Vice President Joe Biden represents some of the failed policies of several previous Democratic presidents and Democratic campaigns for president. He also has his own history of policies that are out of step with the majority of Democratic presidential primary voters.
If the former vice president could take a bit of advice from my experiences as a Little League player since spring training is right around the corner: You need to anticipate the probable outcome when the game is going bad for you and your team.
3
I am a Biden supporter. I believe he has the varied skill set to be president in these scary and unparalleled times. He also can relate to people and demonstrates empathy like no other.
That said, I do not know what has happened of late. When he announced last year, there was such enthusiasm and support. Hoping he can dig down deep and find that courage + energy + optimism to go the distance.
p.s. I'm afraid if Bernie is on the ticket, Trump wins again.
4
I finally went to the Klobuchar website to look at her positions on policy. Everything is in the right direction, just not the idealized version. Public option, not Medicare for all. Strong assistance for technical school, not free college for everyone. Net zero emissions by 2050, not 2030. Etc. Doesn't take money from fossil fuel industry.
I'm of mixed mind here; sometimes you ask for the whole pie when you really just want a slice, so you seen gracious when you get what you want. Sometimes you ask for the slice and don't budge.
What I'm saying is: I think Klobuchar might be the right person to carry the sensible governance banner to the White House.
6
@Dan
I don’t think she’ll win the main spot, I support Sanders, but I think she’d make a great VP to him and together they’d have the best chance of defeating Trump.
Thank you for your service Senator.
Please end your campaign.
It is time for real change, not more of the same.
545
@cynicalskeptic in case you haven't noticed, there's been a lot of real change since 2016 and not for the better. I suggest you adapt your point of view.
29
@cynicalskeptic
Yes, it's past time for change--way past.
Obama promised change, but fell short imo.
Part of the reason Trump won was because he promised change, especially when Hillary was literally promising more of the same.
I still want real change.
27
@cynicalskeptic
neither Bernie nor Buttigieg is going to be the Democratic nominee... Biden still has a pretty good shot at it.
16
On the one hand, I feel really bad for Joe. He seems to be a thoroughly decent man, albeit a politician with whom I have significant disagreements. After a lifetime of public service, he deserves our gratitude.
On the other hand, we all saw this coming. I attended a Biden event in August in NH that was a total mess. Not only was Biden incoherent but the campaign apparatus was visibly weak. Both of those things manifested yesterday.
Amy Klobuchar and Pete Buttigieg can pick up the centrist flag quite capably. That is, if Bloomberg and his cash doesn't run them over like a truck.
477
@Cousy He does seem like a good man who has had more than his share of personal tragedy and handled it gracefully.
But his time has passed and that has become painfully clear watching him on the national stage. Personally, I don't think Trump's repugnant antics have made much difference, I think democrats watching Joe in debates and on the campaign trail has.
69
@Cousy
Agreed that they can pick it up.
But I'm worried about misogyny and homophobia in battleground states more than I am worried about Bloomberg
28
@Cousy after the debacle of 2016, when the DNC ran a centrist candidate against Trump (despite clear indications that Sanders would have been a more compelling candidate to challenge Trump), you say that "Amy Klobuchar and Pete Buttigieg can pick up the centrist flag quite capably": why do you think that a centrist candidate has the best chances against Trump in 2020?
32
Is anyone surprised?
8
At this point, Biden needs to take his 'dog-faced pony soldier' and go home.
9
Joe Biden’s disgraceful treatment of Anita Hill disqualifies him from the Democratic nomination. He just another old, rich, white man who believes that he is entitled to be President.
11
@Common Ground YES! But Joe's response is that he wished he could have done more for her. So even back then he was an impotent chairman of the judiciary committee. Thanks Joe, for giving a lifetime Supreme Court seat to Clarence Thomas and refusing to call the other witnesses willing to testify.
1
Biden’s new failing 2020 campaign strategy ?
Blacks and Latinos R Us !
There’s nobody more clueless than Clueless Joe Biden.
109
Well said. The ultimate nominee will need the Black and Latino vote. But any candidate who ONLY has the Black and Latino vote cannot get to the nomination.
Time to call it a day, Joe. You’re a good guy. Enjoy some time off, you’ve earned it.
17
This pains me because I love Joe B. but I sort of want him to drop out.
He's a strong candidate and would be a great president but it's clear that Republicans are willing to destroy, I fear, the Bidens. Grassley is on a fishing expedition and the Treasury Dept is complicit and no one who could stop this is willing to step up.
I was a freshly minted Delaware voter when Joe won his senate seat and I remember opening the morning paper a few weeks later to see the story of the horrible accident that took his wife and daughter. Joe had to rebuild his family then, and then a second time when Beau died and now it seems like Trump is determined to use the power of the presidency to threaten the Biden family again. It's just not worth it. I'll still vote for Joe in the Florida primary but I am scared for him. My heart hurts.
1
@Margaret - He's a strong candidate??? Huh??? He's getting pummeled by the mayor of South Bend, among others.
4
@AZPurdue The main issue, which apparently eludes you, is a POTUS and a GOP Congress willing to destroy people. That's what should bother you.
@Margaret - the DNC destroyed Bernie four years ago. Your point?
1
Biden and Warren were a contrast in how they handled yesterday’s catastrophic performance in the NH primary. Biden, always the “tough guy” couldn’t run away fast enough. Warren stayed, spoke to her supporters, and posed for more selfies. She showed character and grit, he showed weakness and ingratitude. And I am not a Warren supporter, I don’t think she can win in November, but she showed ma a lot in how she handled defeat.
26
Precarious path forward? No path forward. He has been flat and faltering throughout the campaign, peppered with occasional moments of vibrance and capacity, and of being outright offensive. We love you, Joe. But you cannot win, and we have to end our Trump nightmare. Time to leave. Now!
7
South Carolina may tell the tale. If Biden is still very strong with the African American community, he wins. And that makes Bernie less likely to win the general election if Bernie becomes the nominee.
1
Curious whether you noticed that the three moderates got way more votes combined than the two progressives. Do you think those votes are more likely to coalesce around Sanders/Warren or around one of Biden/buttegieg/Klobuchar?
3
@NorCal Girl I don’t think the identification of moderates is very strong. I think Pete attracts a more progressive voter, and I believe Amy attracts a strong following that wants a woman atop the ticket. I think Warren grates on some and her waffling and past as a Republican who advocated for school choice makes her unacceptable. My feeling is that when Bernie highlights his really moderate and pragmatic positions, and selects a popular running mate, perhaps a female, that he will bring the moderates along.
If African American voters stick with Biden because he was Obama's loyal VP they will be making a big mistake. Biden is least likely to convince voters in critical swing-states that he will bring change that affects African-Americans where it really counts. They know that Trump has been bad for them and their children and want to replace him with someone who will improve their lives. Anyone now running in the Democratic primaries would be better than Trump has been. But can Biden beat Trump when he can't even beat Sanders, Buttigieg, Klobuchar, or Warren? If African-Americans want a president who cares about issues that matter to them anyone would be better than Trump. But Biden probably could not beat Trump, when he can't even beat his fellow Democrats.
3
Precarious is an understatement. He is finished. He remains a likable guy but Democrats want a winner who can turn out the vote. Biden cannot. Sanders has an army of loyal followers who love and admire him for his sincerity and unwavering support of their values. His difficulty is that his army is too small and will lose to Trump because many Democrats will not join his army. A fact reported but not mentioned in most commentaries is that turnout in the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primaries is down from 2016 and we know what happened then. Is there an answer to this? Yes, his name is Bloomberg whose billions will flood the airwaves with facts pointing out Trump's shortcomings. Is this buying the election? I don't really care what you call it. I want to win.
5
@alan brown He remains a likeable guy?? He is short tempered and a bully... I say good riddance.
5
@alan brown Your position is well argued and I’ve thought the same thing. I’m not convinced that Bernie won’t bring the moderate Dems along and also valve off some Trumpsters. If only we knew who was right. Bloomberg has a lot of baggage. If only we knew who would win. It’s very hard to say.
The last time a sitting OR former Vice President from the Democratic Party succeeded to the presidency was under tragic circumstances with Lyndon Johnson succeeding the late President Kennedy in 1963. Humphrey, Mondale, and Gore all failed at grabbing the top job. This does not bode well for Mr. Biden.
4
What? After that, both Nixon and George HW Bush won after being VP, and Gore arguably won. That’s not a fail-safe, but it’s not bad.
(Says nothing about Biden’s odds, which aren’t great. But these guys were former and current VPs who won)
Outing myself as a skeptic here, but I never believed the media narrative or the polls that cited Biden as the front-runner. I'm going to guess those polls were reaching underinformed voters who choose candidates based on name recognition.
Biden unfortunately hasn't offered anything beyond a promise to return to the Obama era. Many of don't want to return. We want to see progress, not yet another re-hash of neoliberalism.
7
You can't coast to the finish line if you haven't built a steady lead. Biden is the equivalent of the interim coach: a placeholder until the real candidate arrives. Please fellow Democrats, regardless of who gets the nomination from our party, please vote. Let's not let self-righteousness and ego prevent us from getting a Democrat back in office. It's not hyperbole to say the fate of the world depends on it.
1
He is losing primaries because he is extremely unpopular, though the media and party refuse to accept reality. 2016 was a crystal clear wake up call. No one deserves to be president just because they’ve faithfully put in their years as a public servant. I find it very disheartening that neither the party nor the media have learned anything in 4 years.
Next up in your news feed, Amy Klobuchar, 3rd place NH winner, appears as the Democratic front runner. The party will move in any direction but forward.
5
I think Biden's heart, when he remembers to look for it, is in the tight place. But I haven't forgotten 1988 when he felt it appropriate to lift large chunks of a speech from Neil Kinnock - then Labour leader in UK - and pass them off as his own.
5
I was never a supporter of his candidacy, but I don’t see anyone talking about the toll the negative lies from Trump and Giuliani have taken on his campaign. No one can dismiss the power of lies in this climate we’re in.
1
I hate Joe Biden mostly because of his work in Congress in 1991 to remove bankruptcy protections for student loan debtors.
13
@Louis Anthes Anita Hill agrees with you, but for different reasons.
1
The reality is that Biden appears old. I have supported his candidacy from the outset, and still believe he would have the best chance to defeat Trump, but if you don't see that he is almost aging before our eyes from public appearance to public appearance you are not paying attention. Bernie, Warren and Bloomberg all seem to be more vibrant even though similarly old. I still don't count Biden out but he must do something to change his apparent feebleness and, if nominated, needs to pick a young, black running mate.
1
Is not age, is not experience; what he needs to show is that he really, really, really wants the presidency. Nothing, so far, has shown that, and that makes him a candidate that nobody wants.
4
Joe Biden is a nice guy. He served his country for many years. He's made sacrifices. However, he should decide to retire and enjoy his last years. Let the upcoming generations take over. This really illustrates one of the major concerns young people in this country have, that the older generation is keeping the jobs, keeping the money, keeping the power, and shutting them out. Pete Buttigieg is the best of the younger candidates. Let him see what he can do, and I'll bet it will be great.
1
@JQ Biden is not a nice guy. Please do some research on Joe Biden, thanks
1
With all due respect, Joe Biden's time has come and gone. Americans don't want to relive the past where hope and change did not bring change that made lives better for so many of them. There is a reason that many Obama voters switched to Trump in 2016. Those former Obama voters know now that Trump was a fraud and not the bringer of change he promised. Biden is trying to run on Obama's coat-tails. But, because Obama tried to work across the aisle as he thought he could, he wound up with an "affordable care act" that is on death's door and doesn't care for millions who are now without real health care. Biden can't win on policies that are now failing. Too many Democrats fear that radical change promised by Sanders or Warren will lose to Trump in November. But that was how Hillary won the nomination in 2016 and lost to Trump in the general election. Americans want real change and an end to the divisiveness that Trump has brought to the country.. Sanders may have been elected POTUS in 2016 and he could beat Trump in 2020, yes, even as a "Democratic Socialist" against a lying, foul-mouthed, adolescent narcissist, who has really not done much of value for the forgotten Americans. Bernie has been the genuine politician calling for progressive change for decades. Just now maybe real voters are listening to this real progressive.
1
This is a guy who didn't want to run in 2016, because --personal matters aside-- the party machine didn't want to step on Hillary's toes on her road to the nomination. We all wanted him to run, but he didn't. We lost respect for him at the time.
Now its 2020 and he thinks that all those voices whom urged him to run, will somehow get him automatically elected to the nomination. Biden smacks of a certain level of "nomination-entitlement," Exactly what turned voters off to Hillary-I-didn't-give-a-concession-speech-Clinton.
Why does everyone in the Democratic party fail to understand that there is a Tea-party movement going on, and that the establishment is not palatable to us. Don't come with the "hey I will maintain Obama's status quo," argument. It didn't work for Hil and it won't work for Biden.
Everyone hates Bernie, but Bernie tells it like it is..... Or else he wouldn't be the front runner. Stop with the hubris, Joe and Hil....listen to the streets..... or risk having the entire party lose its legitimacy as our voice.
2
I thought he would be the leader at this point; however, he never really seemed that into the campaign. I didn't like him snapping at the reporter as he left New Hampshire Monday. He snapped "get that thing out of here" referring to a microphone. It is over.
4
He should never have been in the race. A person with little innate intelligence and no leadership qualities. He thought he could seduce everyone with his resume, but the job interview revealed his extravagant weaknesses. Save everyone a lot of time and drop out now. Thanks for your service, I guess.
6
Biden should have never entered the race. He struggles to complete a sentence or a thought. His exposure to the press or voters has to be carefully managed and limited to minimize his constant gaffes and miscues. He was a lousy Presidential candidate in 1988 - plagiarism and lying about his law school record flamed out that run. He was absolutely terrible when he ran again 2008. Obama needed an older white, pro-corporation moderate as running mate to calm the fears of moderate, white voters, so Biden got a lifeline to become Vice President. Unlike other older candidates like Sanders and Bloomberg, Biden has not aged well. Biden’s old age is a real issue. A lousy Presidential candidate with old age making him worse. He constantly embarrasses himself. His presence has hurt other moderate candidates.
Biden needs to drop out now as the embarrassment to himself and the damage to the Democratic Party keeps compounding.
Hopefully, he loses in South Carolina primary and he then has no choice to end this fiasco, rather than prolonging the misery.
Biden should have stayed home and just kept up the fantasy that he would have been able to defeat Trump and be President. The harsh reality is that he was never up to that extremely challenging and crucial task.
Biden is a good man, he faced and overcame real tragedy in his life multiple times, he was a real public servant in the Senate and as Vice President - a pro-corporation, moderate Democrat.
Should be retired and enjoying his old age.
1
My elderly mother who watches a fair amount of television has reported that her and her friends who are also elderly and watch a lot of TV are all now supporting Blloomberg. They know very little about Bloomberg except for his numerous TV commercials, yet they now believe he is the best man to run against Trump. Why? The realism of the elderly? They know that money makes the world go around and Bloomberg can make it go around faster and longer than anyone else in the race.
2
it's pro forma by now: "love the man, respect the career: time to drop out."
sure, he may push on to "let the people have their say," or whatever the cliché rationale may be. but he's a 20th century man in a 21st century race ... and it takes a lot of money to campaign for super tuesday.
joe can't find the speech that defends his son and trashes trump for his lies and nepotism. that says a lot to me about biden's chances.
2
Dems need a fighter against trump and Joe's not it. Gift wrapped the opportunity by the repub's to come out swinging helping him, his party and the down ballot he wobbled. During the impeachment trial, repub's were threatening to call Biden to testify. Biden should have raced to the nearest mic and delcared 'just give me the time and date and I'll be there.' Opportunity missed.
Trump will be thrilled if and when Biden withdraws from the campaign. That is what Trump wants, as is demonstrated by his behavior in pursuing Biden and Biden's family. It has to follow that Biden is the candidate Trump fears most.
Oh well. I am not paying any attention to the campaign yet. I will support whomever the Democrats nominate, because no one could possibly be worse than four more years of Trump. But I remain frustrated with the candidates as a group, because they are all acting as though they both expect and want to lose.
Get it together, folks. You are so busy knocking each other out of the race that you are losing sight of the real goal, a goal that is far more important than any of your individual desires. The one goal is to defeat Trump. Nothing else matters. If you really cared about our nation and the planet, you would join with each other and put together a viable campaign that would have a chance.
My most important criterion for the Democratic candidate is electability. Nothing else matters. While it would be nice if the candidate had a pulse, that criterion is in distant second. Nothing else matters. Nothing. I don't care about principles, policies, taxation plans, or anything else. Electability. And did I mention that electability is the only thing I am interested in? I will be furious if the Dems nominate someone who can't win. Remember McGovern? And the stakes are much higher here and now. . . .
1
The damage from Trump is deafening. Justice has become a travesty among the hard working, honest and true American prosecutors and patriots that GOP continues to ignore and promote trumpisum. Trump destroyed Biden either way just from the attention.
Joe Biden, a nice guy, is not a leader type. He is as inspiring as a flat soda. He was selected as Obamas second because of his stability and experience, not his leadership style; that was Obamas. Joe has been through a lot; with the loss of his first wife and oldest son, and I admire his resilience. It was a poor choice by his youngest son to serve on the board of Burisma, one hypnotized by money. It also was a poor choice not to confront Hunter, his surviving son, on that choice. If Biden were ever the candidate, I'm afraid he'd be toast; not only from the Burisma scandal, but his bumbling and rambling on the debate stage. Thank you for your service, Joe.
1
Biden and Bloomberg are the 'Oscar favourites', Buttigieg and Klobuchar are the 'Oscar indie favourites'. In the mean time Sanders is the 'People's Choice Award winner.'
The reason there is a People's Choice is because most people don't feel the DNC (aka Oscar organisation equivalent) represent the 'We the People" audience but rather the "We the Corporate People" industry. The current DNC is to the right of Reagan especially when compared to most of the world where Bernie would be considered a Moderate or Centrist. How far the US has moved to the Right over the past 40 years is astounding.
3
Exactly what I, and many others, had predicted... he's become a meme.
I loved Joe and thought Joe and Stacy Abrams would run the table in November . After watching Joe playing the tackling dummy for Trump and company for months l regret to say it but I think Joe is toast. People thought Joe had the fight in him to take onTrump. Joe could have made Trump think twice about attacking his family by countering with the riches TRUMPS KIDS are getting. Trump has almost golfed for a year out of his three in office. Trump gave Biden so many chances to expose his hypocrisy and Joes inability to think his feet was glaring. Biden rested on his laurels like Hillary did in 2016. Bernie winning the nomination will be a repeat of McGovern in 1972. As Biden has showed in Iowa and New Hampshire national polls mean nothing.
1
This is what Trump's doing. Period.
2
Joe Biden is a good and decent man. He's also yesterday's news.
It's time to move on.
4
Fragile?
Biden is cooked - has been for a LONG time...
His cartoon "candidacy" was never more that a distraction.
PERIOD.
5
Biden doesn't look forward. His speeches are all about the past. His time has over. Bloomberg is my choice.
6
The demise of the Biden candidacy has been greatly exaggerated.
First, Buttigieg pulled out all the stops in Iowa and still didn't win decisively.
Second, Iowa and New Hampshire are relatively insignificant states as far as being bellwethers go . They are highly unrepresentative of the country as a whole. It is beyond me how any candidate would drop out based on their performance in these two small arenas.
Third, Bernie won New Hampshire with the smallest percentage of any winner there because the field was so fractured. 70% still voted against him. Placing the presumptive nominee's mantle on him based on this is premature at best.
Fourth, Buttigieg, whose total experience in politics was as mayor of South Bend, is woefully unprepared for the presidency. If he gets the nomination, just wait for the revelations of his work at McKinsey to come out, as well as the bias against his sexuality.
Fifth, this newspaper recently ran an article about how Amy Klobuchar was voted the most difficult senator to work for by senate staffers. In light of this I seriously question her temperament for the presidency.
In sum, the other candidates have their significant flaws as well. Give Joe Biden until Super Tuesday.
96
@Frank
You've never heard of betting on a horse to show? You don't need to win the race decisively or even win first place. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd positions are all winning bets. Biden hasn't even won a show bet in two primaries. He's sliding in South Carolina and Nevada is looking bleak. Moreover, he's just not running good.
Biden should stay in the race till Super Tuesday. His presence damages other moderates. However, don't kid yourself. He's a lame horse.
26
@John In response to your 5th point: what is upsetting about this NYT piece on Klobuchar's temperament is the fact that there are plenty of examples of male senators that are equally as difficult to deal with but did not receive a full-blown article in a national newspaper. Nor does anyone even question it; they just buckle down and get to work. Clearly, a double standard at play here.
36
@Andy
when's the last time the Democratic New Hampshire primary picked a presidential winner?
That's right, Jimmy Carter in 1976. NH has a horrible record of choosing Democratic presidential candidates. Biden is still in it.
12
Biden for this Democrat has been quite a sad horse to bet upon, he is inarticulate ,has little message to masthead against the new MAGA fascist Trump and yes as with Bloomberg and the stop & frisk comments from Aspen Co. Biden telling off a young woman
with insulting anger who merely asked him about the Iowa caucus leavse him and Mike B. not as winners but sadly as losers.
3
Thank you for your service, Joe
We'd be most appreciative if you could step aside and make room for the strongest most electable candidate
Mike Bloomberg
He will destroy Trump and end this national nightmare
16
He’s also fallen behind the new national leader for the Democratic nomination, Bernie Sanders.
Let’s help transform and reform this Democratic Party into what it used to be and should be.
52
@srwdm:
I agree with you in general, but Sanders isn't the solution: he's far, far too left for most, and some of his proposals (e.g., free tuition for all) which may sound wonderful are in reality untenable.
Also a major negative is his age; picking a worthy Vice President would be much more critical, as Sanders might well not survive for another four years.
21
@James : Why is age a "major negative." Ageism?
1
@srwdm Sure, by following the lead of someone who is not a Democrat. Seems to me the GOP did that same sort of thing recently.
2
I thought for months Biden would (and should) be the nominee. He's the most recognizable and centrist Democrat running. Now, he needs to face facts and make room for the only other real contender who can realistically beat Trump.
Bloomberg 2020.
73
@KR I still have hope for Biden. The first 2 states are, in my opinion, unindicative and negligible. But if going forward he cannot pull it off then the only option to win is Bloomberg. Biden has the most experience at the highest level in our government and internationally and is morally superior to the current occupant of the WH. Bloomberg shows up DT as the "brilliant business man" and has political executive experience. The rest of the field are lacking in both.
2
@KR \
Dude! We are just getting started. Biden is going to win at least one of the next two primaries and that will leap frog him back into the public as the most likely to succeed. Then everyone will jump on that bad wagon and away he goes. Patience...
1
@NanaK Look at Robert Gates' assessment of Biden's foreign policy. The first two states are important for momentum--which Biden does not have with 4th and 5th. His run has kept other decent candidates from moving up or dropping out. Arrogant and a breathtakingly sense of entitlement.
2
Time to call it quits, Joe. Too bad; a Democratic extremist will win the nomination and lose the general election in November.
Trump is guaranteed 4 more years.
23
Is Trump not a conservative extremist. Did a Democratic centrist not lose to him last time? Your logic is flawed.
1
@Phil Interesting. Where is the extremity? Healthcare for all? Affordable college? Modernizing our infrastructure and promoting renewables and energy independence?
In our system of democracy (if it survives DJT), Mr. Sander's goals will need to be argued for and supported by the masses through election of senators and congress people. Of course you understand this, but it is a whole lot easier to thoughtlessly swallow the socialist, extremist monikers that have percolated out of FOX, Trump rallies, conservative talk radio, etc.
Is Vermont a socialist state?
@Phil disagree on both points: 1) Bloomberg is not a Democratic extremist and 2) Bloomberg is the best candidate to stop Trump getting 4 more years. And my own point 3) anyone who believes your dire prediction and sits on their hands in Nov is culpable if Trump gets 4 more years.
3
He’s had a great career and made a difference, but it’s time to move aside and let others lead.
32
Biden is failing for the same reason Clinton failed. He’s convinced it’s his turn, can’t articulate a vision for why he is running, and has a long track record of being in the wrong side of issues, voting for disastrous wars and pandering to corporate agendas.
292
@Xoxarle You may be partly right about Biden, but you are completely wrong about Clinton. She was a very qualified candidate, who failed because of the extremism and zealotry of Sanders supporters who did not vote for her. Your tone makes me think you may be one of them. And in a swing state.
7
@GetEd
Towards the end of the campaign Clinton's own aides begged, begged, begged her to her go make stops in two of the states where she lost to Trump by a few thousand votes. Clinton refused to listen.
It was Clinton's election to lose, and she lost it.
11
@GetEd
I suppose you believe communists and social democrats lit the Reichstag on fire too.
5
With all due respect, time to bow out, Joe! We have to get Trump out of office, and there are too many candidates still on the Democratic side.
26
Why was Biden ever the front runner? National polling in a primary is pointless and he never was positioned to do well in these early contests. The media hyped the wrong guy.
47
@ADG The media, including all of the pundits at The NY Times, as well as the DNC need to let the voters decide, even the choice of the voters is not to the liking of the establishment. If they pull the strings the way they did in 2016 a lot of Democrats will stay home again and four more years of Trump are guaranteed.
Then the Democrats need to do so something about their primaries. It is ridiculous to allow New Hampshire and Iowa to choose our candidates.
3
His decision to run in 2020 was his first mistake. Sadly some people never learn to walk away.
38
@Jack
His decision NOT to run in '16 was his first mistake, albeit an understandable one.
6
I fear thugs are winding down for Joe and he is not even seen anymore as the one who can beat Trump. I also fear that the vote coming from Nevada and South Carolina could be very disappointing, even embarrassingly so, for him. If he does not get at least one 1st place finish in one state and at least a 2nd place finish in the other, it will be all over for him. The gracious, dignified and patriotic thing for him to do is to withdraw now and encourage his supporters to support Mike Bloomberg - the only candidate with a chance to defeat Trump.
19
It’s too late for Biden to retain his dignity, but it isn’t too late for him to stop doing damage. Biden needs to vanish from public life.
37
@sedanchair
Why vanish? That's cruel. He did nothing wrong. If he loses the nomination, he can campaign for the nominee because he is the MOST LOVED democrat (besides Obama) despite his flaws.
@dba Cruel? The presidency is not an award for long public service. It should be a recognition of competence, which Biden no longer has. The only thing he can contribute to public life is harm at this point. Do you want him out there dropping gaffes on behalf of the nominee in October?
1
@sedanchair
Biden beloved? By whom? His dog?
He is an egotistical, vain man. His ego is not quite as big as that of the Socialist candidate but definitely he feels as entitled as HRC.
Just leave. Now.
If not, we will be forced to call security.
1
Biden has been damaged by his son's venture in Ukraine. It was not illegal to work for the Burisma, but common sense should have told both of them that if he planned to run for President, it doesn't look good to have someone with no experience step into that position based on his father's name.
His campaign should have tried to deal with that up front.
78
@Jacquie
So much about Biden's son. Donald Trump loves that! Takes the intention off of his nepotism, etc.
7
@Jacquie
It doesn't just "look bad", it IS bad. No wonder Obama never endorsed him. Hunter is an albatross around his neck.
4
@Jacquie Yes, Trump surely accomplished what he set out to do to Joe.
1
I love Joe Biden, but he lost me after the first debate. It's a visceral thing, hard to describe, but he is not strong or savvy enough for this fight. He is not the Joe Biden of 2008. I don't think Trumps stupid conspiracy theory about his son hurt him at all in these primaries. He would have sunk, regardless based only on his own performance.
When Bloomberg entered the race my heart soared- he has what it takes more than any of the others. This is going to be a dirty race, with more propaganda and dark money than ever. We need someone tough, savvy and inspiring and yes, Bloomberg is all of this.
22
@lkos Problem is, Bloomberg is a DINO in many ways, as you should know from living in NYC.
2
Joe should bow out gracefully after South Carolina and endorse Mike Bloomberg in time for Super Tuesday. Joe is a great guy and he can help us win in November with working class union guys in the Rust Belt. Please say it IS so, Joe.
16
Dollars to donuts that if Biden drops out, the Republicans will not care about the Biden "corruption" and their "investigations" will come to an absolute stand still. They will than select the leading Dem presidential candidate to "investigate" using our taxpayer money to do their political dirty work.
84
I had hopes for Biden but given his Hunter (and other) baggage and his inability to speak, I think Trump will make mincemeat out of him. This would be his third loss for the Presidency. As Obama said: “enough”.
8
I don't doubt his support among African Americans will help him in South Carolina. But as a former vice-president, the real question is why were white voters in Iowa and New Hampshire (states that voted for Obama twice) so unimpressed? Time for him to quit the race.
14
As much as it pains me to say it, stories like this are what lend credibility to the “fake news” arguments. All we’ve heard since he joined the race is that Biden is the “front runner” and then the votes get counted and we find out he’s no where near that position. Which begs the question: was the news reporting just inaccurate or was it deliberately fashioning its own narrative? After all, this is exactly what happened in Nov 2016.
37
@Erik I think you raise a valid point. While I'm no Bernie Bro you can see the CNN slant against Sanders. And Gabbard gets completely ignored
2
@Erik
Never content to simply report the news, they just can't resist the temptation to mold it, as well.
Well, that's the harsh interpretation, anyway.
Another, somewhat more forgiving, one is that reporters can't resist the temptation to latch onto bits of conventional "wisdom" in order to seem tuned-in to the public's pulse. The herd mentality is human nature.
1
Biden is emotionally brittle- he's not even up to responding to voter's good questions without snapping. He would not be able to handle the stress of a general election.
26
More media hysteria. Remember folks, the NH primary is not a closed primary. If you were undeclared (which many NH voters were) you could vote for either party. Trump was advocating the undeclareds to vote for Sanders and you all know why. Now everyone is jumping on Biden's political grave. Don't rely on the media declarations to determine your choice. Be smart and be wary.
12
Vice President Biden is Edmund Muskie in 1972 revisited. It's a shame someone in Biden's campaign didn't study that candidacy and realized that you can't win a race without a clear message other than you can beat the incumbent. To add to the parallels, you had a Republican dirty trickster actively muddying the waters in both instances! To now hang your campaign hat on a hook that's supported supposedly by a specific subset of voters strikes me as a desperation move. If it doesn't work, hopefully he will see the handwriting on the wall sooner rather than later.
4
Like Hillary Biden comes off as if he deserves the presidency. And for this reason I believe he is where he is in the polls.
8
The few rallies Biden holds are not going so well
At a Biden rally in New Hampshire a 21 year old college woman asks Biden "How do you explain the performance in Iowa and why should the voters believe that you can win a national election?"
Biden's response: "You ever been to a caucus?"
Woman says yes.
Biden: "No you haven’t. You’re a lying dog-faced pony soldier."
23
Trump is not so smart, thinking he should discredit Biden. Biden would have been easy to defeat in November because he is seriously incapacitated as a thinker and a speaker. Trump would have chewed him up and spit him out. Thankfully, Biden will withdraw and make room for a candidate able to unify the nation against the Emperor without clothes.
9
Dear Joe,
You are truly a decent person but please don't do this to us. We respect your past achievements, but by staying the race you are doing Trump's work by muddying the moderate lane for democrats. Let Klobuchar/Pete/Bloomberg compete so we can find the strongest person who can deal with our national emergency!!!
9
Biden is not of this moment, is worn out and very foggy minded. "Lying, dog-faced pony soldier"? How on earth does his mind go to such bizarre places? His mantra "I want to serve” is threadbare and, now, meaningless. He is incapable, after decades of service, generally, positive. Hubris and the lure of the limelight are making him look rather foolish. He needs to withdraw; he will never be nominated or elected.
24
Biden should announce that Bernie will be his VP.
1
I am surprised that an article on Biden’s fading candidacy does not even mention his son Hunter. The lame “he did nothing wrong” defense is so offensive to most Americans, especially from a man whose appeal is based largely on a reputation of honesty and good judgement. It’s over for Joe, sadly.
14
The problem with Biden and the Democratic party as a whole is that they have consistently courted voters of color then stabbed them in the back once they have what they need. Don't expect that to continue. Black voters, especially females, are tired of being pandered to for votes and dismissed after elections (Bill Clinton's 3-Strike policy comes immediately to mind).
Biden, Buttigieg, Klobuchar, all have issues that they are trying to explain away with words that don't add up to an explanation. Pete Buttigieg actually blamed African Americans for the increase arrests after he was elected (January Debate). Hmmm. Amy Klobuchar tried to explain her support for killer cops by talking about her support for whites (The View). Kamala Harris called Biden out in the first debate. His response is always that he has the support of Black voters.
Newsflash! Black and brown people are sick of being pawns. We really don't trust politicians any further than we can throw them, and we will be holding any candidate that wins the Democratic nomination to account. And if that candidate is not the right fit for black and brown people, guess what? We will stay home, or vote "other". Think 2016 when a healthy number of black men voted for Donald Trump.
4
Joe Biden and Elizabeth Warren need to go out and have dinner together. Drink a bottle or two of good wine. And then cry on each other's shoulders.
6
@Richard Phelps And then maybe run together as a team.
1
"...dog faced pony soldier..."
Thank you, Joe for your decades of service to the country.
16
Please mr Biden withdraw. Save your legacy.
1
The NYT described BIden as a zombie candidate. He is. I wish he would just get out of the way.
7
And what if South Carolina had been first?
3
The media have campaigned for Biden for some time now and as usual, they probably missed the mark. I never thought that he would go too far. I have nothing against him, he is basically a decent man and a great politician with an impressive career. A former vice president with a long history in Washington, however, is not really a fit for the times. If there is anything that recent presidents and popular candidates such as Obama, Trump, Sanders or Buttigieg have in common, it is that they do not match this profile.
The leader of the delegate count at the moment, by one delegate, is Buttigieg. At this point, that does not necessarily mean anything but it's also hard to not draw the conclusion that he would have won NH without Klobuchar's late surge. Predictions are dangerous, I know, but looking at the combined 44% vote share in NH by Buttigieg and Klobuchar, and taking into account Pete's outsider status, it seems quite possible that Buttigieg will win the nomination for the moderates.
2
There are many things about Joe Biden that I respect and like.
I always thought he would make a better and more effective senior statesman for the country than its president.
All I know if that if by some chance his name ends up on the ballot as the Democratic candidate for president, I would be most honored to cast my vote for him.
In the meantime, I sincerely wish him the very best in all future endeavors and quote that familiar Irish poem:
"May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face, and rains fall soft upon your fields."
The very best of everything to you sir.
9
So if Biden is Obama's BFF, why hasn't Obama endorsed him yet ?
Isn't it time, if in fact it is going to happen ?
13
I think Obama is doing exactly as he should... wait until the final candidate is chosen, then wade into the fray with support. Jumping in now and not supporting the eventual candidate would prove divisive and lead to further fracturing of the party.
37
@G Obama will endorse the whomever wins the democratic nomination. I agree that it would be a great to do so now but he doesn't want to seem partial. Just like last time when he waited until Hillary won the nomination to endorse her.
6
Biden's candidacy was doomed before it even started. He waffled for months about whether to get into the race, signaling his ambivalence. When he finally decided to become a candidate, he appeared to only make a half-hearted effort. I hate to say Trump is right about anything, but Low Energy Joe was spot on. I'm not saying someone in their late 70s can't be president, but Joe's batteries are clearly wearing down. He's a good guy but he's not vigorous, he's not charismatic and he seems out of touch. Time to get out and make may for a centrist democrat who can beat King Donald.
15
@Marc Problem is that there are very few centrist Democrats left.
2
@Phil problem is there are very few, if any, young Democrat voters who understand, value or accept centrist Democrats. Politics has become so polarized in their lifetimes the centrist concept doesn't get their buy-in.
1
Dear Joe - please clear the way for Klobuchar. She has experience, and she can get it done if she gets your endorsement. Bernie can never win over Trump, and we will all be in for another four years of despair. We need a candidate who can win over liberals, moderates, independents, and on-the-fence Republicans who don't want four more years of Trump.
13
@Monica
This, absolutely:
'We need a candidate who can win over liberals, moderates, independents, and on-the-fence Republicans who don't want four more years of Trump.'
This, not a chance:
'Klobuchar'
1
Joe, we all appreciate your contributions to democracy, but we are in a critical situation and at risk of losing our much loved way of life. Surely, the noble step for you to take now is to drop out and support Bernie. You will be remembered as a hero.
9
Time for Biden to call it quits.
We should have an election between Sanders and President Trump. Sanders accurately represents what the Democrats believe. Time for voters to decide which way the country should go.
9
@Jonathan - "Sanders accurately represents what the Democrats believe." is an inaccurate statement on its own.
1
Biden believes he’s inevitable. But I doubt it.
Take his belief he’ll not only do well in SC, but also in Nevada? Has he forgotten Buttigieg speaks fluent Spanish?
What stands out to me from last night is that the two moderates, preferred by more people (In total) than Sanders, are both much younger than Biden.
Younger + Moderate = rejection of Biden for 2 reasons.
I think that’s the message NH sent: Give us a youthful moderate.
10
I have been very concerned about Biden's cognitive powers all along. Knowing that he has overcome stuttering, I still found his halting answers worrisome. Now, following several well-publicized outbursts of somewhat insulting responses to questions/protests at his rallies, I am confident he is not up to the job. I hope he withdraws soon, further narrowing the field. We need a nominee all can rally around.
51
The impeachment hurt Biden, who was the most viable Democrat to beat Trump. Ironically, Trump will likely win reelection now because he was impeached.
7
This mindset is exhausting. And inaccurate. We have reached a point where no matter what happens, good or bad, it is to Trump's benefit. Please stop attempting to propagate this delusion.
8
Still trying to paint Biden as a moderate when he is and always has been a moderate conservative at best. No “moderate” supports slashing social security and Medicare like Biden does.
15
I support Amy, so I suppose this is good news for me. But I am still irked at the dramatic unfairness of having two nearly entirely white states go first.
The number of delegates they represent is only a tiny fraction of the delegates needed to win, but the impact they have is a thousandfold their size. We need to correct this in 2024.
De facto racism is not OK.
28
@Sparky Uh, then states who are more diverse should step up. Iowa's state constitution requires them to be first- perhaps we should just ignore them if they have no meaning.
1
@MrsWhit : "Iowa's state constitution requires them to be first"? Who cares? What power does Iowa's state constitution have over the DNC or any state other than Iowa?
1
@MrsWhit
No, Iowa's constitution does not require it to go first. Iowa goes first because it has a complicated, time-consuming system, so it has to start early. It has precinct caucuses, followed by county conventions, district conventions, and then a state convention.
The Democratic Party has acquiesed in Iowa's first in the nation status, but that may change afte this year's debacle.
2
Biden looks and acts too old to be able to handle the responsibilities of being President. Let's all be real about this.
47
@David Binko Industrial strength bronzer and an 80lb weight gain ought to fix that!
2
I had the privilege of meeting Vice President Biden in June 2009 when he was touring America putting a face and explaining to Americans the recovery program that the Obama Administration put forward to get us out of The Great Recession.
Shaking his hand, I told Vice President Biden to run in 2016, and he simply said "We'll see."
I think he missed his opportunity in 2016 because, outside of the Never Obama (or any other non-white male) racists, Obama was popular and Biden could have continued.
But, he did not run and the Democratic Establishment decided long before Iowa that it was Hillary's time.
Well, with the absence of Biden, there went the black vote, but, also, there was an underlying current of real change coming; that the people did not want business as usual in DC and that made it dangerous for anyone from the Establishment which expected Hillary v. Jeb. The Dems were too blinded to see Bernie was their candidate and did what they could to obstruct him - which was obvious and alienated the youth vote. And, of course, the GOP Establishment failed to obstruct Trump. Trump won because 2016 was NonEstablishment v. Establishment and, as he correctly predicted in his 1990 Playboy interview, he connected with the average white guy.
This year is what Biden-free 2016 should have been: Passionate NonEstablishment v. Passionate NonEstablishment.
Had Biden ran in 2016, he might have won the Presidency depending on what Sanders did.
4
@VJR Sorry, you're forgetting he'd just lost his son. He was in NO shape to run for President in 2016 and he's a three time loser of Presidential primaries. He's always been a conservative gaffe machine.
4
@MrsWhit I didn't forget that at all. I was well aware of it. Like Nature, the US election doesn't care about our feelings. His time to run was 2016 and he didn't and his time has passed.
@MrsWhit I didn't forget that at all. I was well aware of it. Like Nature, the US election doesn't care about our feelings. His time to run was 2016 and he didn't and his time has passed.
And being a gaffe machine is irrelevant in this day and age given our current president.
Joe Biden's primary problem is not that he is too old, or.too moderate, or too much a symbol of the past. It's He's simply that he's just not any good at running for President and never has been.
Biden's 1988 campaign for President lasted 106 days ending in a plagiarism scandal . His 2008 campaign lasted 361 days ending after he received less than 1% of the vote in the Iowa caucus. Biden is a decent person, very accomplished, was a good vice-president and may have (or had) what it takes to be a good president.
But he has never been much of a presidential candidate and he has not shown any signs of a late in life skill set transformation.
I like the guy but he doesn't have whatever it takes to run a successful presidential campaign. Not now, not ever.
381
@LT
What Joe Biden did in 1988 is irrelevant. The leading Dem candidates are hugely flawed... Joe still has a good chance.
3
@LT Though I do think his position on relevant issues is important, you point out another very important and very overlooked factor.
Running for president and running the country are two incredibly different skills. Few have both. Most have only one. And the latter are the ones we inevitably get, with exceptions here and there.
2
@LT : what you say has a lot of truth in it. But it is a real problem that in the USA the skill set and the knowledge (and the bank account) you need to campaign is so different from the skill set and the knowledge you need to govern.
1
I love Biden to the point where, like the cowboy in Brokeback Mountain, I can't quit him. I know he is touched by greatness. But his campaign has been touched by imbecility. Those ads against Mayor Pete were infantile. They elevated Pete and made Biden look like the high school kid. And Biden has not made the case for himself that is all over his resume-full of accomplishments. Journalists and opponents cherry pick errors (some admittedly very big) and Biden gets flustered & crestfallen. He needs to go on a tear about just what his accomplishmebts--especially the Obama admin rescuing of the economy--has meant for everyone in the country. It might be too late now. But he ought at least to take communication lessons from Anna Navarro, one of his most quick-witted fans.
5
@Mike I have to admit I agree with everything you said about Joe. His campaign has indeed been touched by imbecility, he does look like a high school kid, he fails to make the case for himself, he makes very big mistakes, gets crestfallen and flustered, and it is indeed too late. And I have to say, that's not really the description of a solid Presidential candidate "touched by greatness."
5
It's a done deal.
Enjoy retirement you served your country well.
Play some golf maybe Trump will invite for a round.
6
The case for Biden was there were no other moderates with swing state appeal and a long national track record who seemed to be doing well so despite his age he should enter the race. The risk of Joe's campaign was that he would siphon votes from any such moderates and from others, preventing them from getting a reasonable hearing in the contest.
Bloomberg is just a wealthier version of the Biden idea with no federal experience. People think positively about him because he is all over the TV slowly repeating "Mike will get it done" which sounds an awful lot like Trump slowly repeating "Make America Great Again".
It now is clear there are viable moderates, most notably Amy Klobuchar, who can win both the nomination and the general election. Any case for the 70-somethings to stay in the race has evaporated, other than their immense egos (not all 70-somethings have immense egos, but all of the ones currently running for president do). Senator Warren's plan seems to be to finish a distant second to Bernie among progressives in every state, which seems like it would make it very hard to win.
The nomination feels like it should come down to the top 3 finishers in NH, and that among them Senator Klobuchar seems by far the most electable in 2020. She might just walk to the nomination if the non-viable candidates all quit.
9
I've thought from the get-go that people were claiming Biden as their selected candidate because of his tenure with President Obama AND he had name recognition. The fact that he's falling behind so quickly in the primaries means that as people learned about the other candidates, they shifted allegiance. I appreciate Mr. Biden, but his time has come and gone.
23
Biden is an agreeable warhorse, but he wasn't up to the task. As Iowa and New Hampshire have shown, and other states will as well, Senator Sanders is. In 2016, thought an uninspiring centrist was the right choice, but she wasn't. Bernie's moment has arrived.
25
Let's be clear: At this point, despite my progressive leanings, I'll vote for the former Republican Mike Bloomberg if he's able to buy the Democrat nomination with his billions. Trump has to be stopped and we have to come together at the convention.
Full stop.
Have to. Double underscore.
But Joe, dear old Joe, is not the man to do this. He's past his sell by date. And it seems almost everyone outside his campaign knows this.
Joe, the inevitable nominee. The front runner.
Who remembers when Jeb Bush ("JEB!") was in this same position almost exactly four years ago in the GOP primary process?
Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose.
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@Progressive Democrat
So you are a Progressive Democrat who is fine with Bloomberg buying the nomination, and fine with Bloomberg’s record on and defense of and insincere/calculate apology for stop and frisk. Since you see Bloomberg as having the best chance to beat Trump.
I actually agree with you. I just think that it’s more appropriate to call yourself @Pragmatic Democrat. It’s all about beating Trump, let’s drop the progressive pretense.
1
Joe Biden is toast. He was the establishment’s candidate when they feared Bernie or Warren had serious chances of winning. After all, Joe was reliable as as can be to not rock the boat and preserve the status quo minus the madness, the grift, the incompetence and ignorance of the Trump gang. He ran as the « I can beat Trump » candidate, and it seemed he could.
But then he lost big in IA and NH. And two moderates, Mayor Pete and Senator Amy surged and have become serious candidates. And most of all, Mayor Bloomberg will be entering the race. He means business and has the money to go all the way. And he doesn't have those "crazy" ideas the establishment fears so much.
This is now a bridge too far for Joe. A good soldier but whose best days are behind him. Even his firewall in SC is cracking. So those who pushed him in this race now realize they don’t need him anymore. They will just abandon him and put their money elsewhere.
That’s politics. Nothing personal but ruthless.
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@William Dufort The scary part is that with 3 viable moderates (Amy, Pete and Mike) each with their own strengths, it's quite possible they will split the moderate vote and let Sanders slip in as the nominee. Warren's collapse is frankly surprising and bad news for moderates.
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@Sparky
I think, with his money and the establishment behind him, Mike will overwhelm them all. And remember, the Dems are split 60-40% in favour of the Moderates vs the Progressives.
6
It’s really simply: people don’t want Biden and Obama nostalgia isn’t enough.
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77 is too old. Many of the candidates, including the President, are too old. I say this as a 70-year-old myself; I know I’m not as sharp as I was in my 50s. The Presidency is a demanding and draining job, and younger people should be doing it.
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@Harry Gower
I agree. I'm 66 and have been accused of ageism for my feelings. We all reach a point where the prudent act is to step aside. The toughest part is realizing it is that time. Our Country needs a new direction and new leaders to guide us on our journey.
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@Harry Gower Remember Roosevelt in a wheelchair?
14
@Harry Gower
I agree with you, but unfortunately as Trump has proved numerous times that you don't have to be sharp, you just need to have your party be the majority.
10
As Uncle Junior said to Bobby in the Soprano's, "He couldn't sell it!" I don't think Biden's heart was ever in the race though which really limited his candidacy and ability to persuade.
14
This is going to be a long, bitter and brutal struggle. Although I will certainly vote, and for anyone not named Trump, the United States is going to be a miserably unhappy place to be for many months and I am very happy to find myself in the gentle serenity f Mexico. Anyone who thinks that Uncle Joe has the energy to see this through is simply not paying attention.
35
@Chuck Burton Several of my Republican friends believe Trump is a lewd uncouth, lying lout, yet they are holding their nose to vote for him.
And among the "never-Trumpers,' the idea that anyone would be better than Trump, apparently regardless of qualifications, is a recipe for 4 more years of chaos
The death knell is premature. Klobuchar and Buttigieg, while formidable politicians in the Upper Midwest and ultra white states, still have absolutely ZERO shot of winning a plurality of non-white voters. Sanders, on the other hand, has gained traction with non-white voters. This race is still Sanders v Biden. The media cycle with shift quickly after Nevada and South Carolina. We are headed for a brokered convention, and Biden is still capable of picking up a tremendous amount of delegates along the way. My prediction: a Sanders-Klobuchar unity ticket.
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@Thucydides
No ticket topped by Sanders will inspire Black turnout.
48
@Thucydides
Biden is toast I think. Bernie delegates from California, New York, and a Bloomberg-Texas will wash out Bidens advantages in certain early states, or demographically favorable states, and Bernie’s lead will result in a convention that doesn’t need to be brokered. Meanwhile, we need to see if Warren drops out and gives Bernie a further tailwind, and presumably, her endorsement.
At that point, we can only cross our fingers and hope that he picks a running mate that signals unity, Klobuchar or otherwise.
10
@Cousy
Sanders has picked up a large percentage of Biden's non-white supporters. They want a president who has consistently worked to reduce the wealth gap.
20
I think Trump's attack on Biden and his son, accusing them of major corruption without any proof what-so-ever, played a major part in the collapse of Biden's campaign. Yes, Trump had to go through the embarrassment of impeachment, but that was water off a duck's back for Trump, and it appears that he got what he wanted without consequence.
34
@Antoine
Whistle-Blower and the leak of it to the press only reason Biden was smeared. It was democrats making it an issue not the President so who got what they wanted?
4
@Antoine
That and exposure to actual voters who could see up close and personal that Biden is not the same man he once was.
Biden may not see it. But voters did.
15
@Antoine
No proof? It's established fact Hunter Biden is neither an epert on the Ukraine or energy sector but got over $3 million from Burisma.
1
Trump may fear Biden could beat him.
I fear Biden will continue saying things like, calling a voter a "Lying dog-faced pony soldier" and easily lose to Trump.
When you sound more like rambling incoherent Trump at a rally, it doesn't equal votes.
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The “dog-faced pony soldier” remark from Biden this past weekend left me gobsmacked. His remarks seem to harken to his past glory days, such that they were, without much vision for the future. He has looked weaker and failing with each passing day on the campaign trail. I’ve thought from the day he announced his candidacy that his time had passed. I’m sorry he put himself through this exercise, but I think those who supported him now see what I have seen all along.
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@Linda
When late-night comedians started talking about his "no malarkey" slogan, I thought they were just making fun of him because he says silly things sometimes. But when I realized that was truly his new slogan...huh???
Now he rudely insults nice people who ask simple questions of him.
It's time to pass the torch, Joe.
LONG PAST, apparently!
17
@Linda Joe’s mouth ultimately betrays him by highlighting the real thinking that lurks in the deep abyss of his intellect. The only folks who seem to understand him are the scores of democratic patronage seekers and his family. Both groups are very accustomed to him, and try to translate his remarks for
the rest of us.
9
Biden brought this on himself. He never should have entered the race in the first place. It is so obvious he isn't as sharp as he once was. The fire in his belly has gone out. His performance in the debates has been cringeworthy. I think he should take his magnificently wonderful wife and sail off into the sunset. Bet she would love that!
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@Eileen Jill would have been a remarkable First Lady -- and probably kept right on teaching doing it!
1
@Eileen I always liked Jill, but right now it seems obvious she should have desperately tried to keep him from running. I do feel she's allowed him to embarrass and humiliate himself.
1
Now, if I was a Bernie Bros. I’d be on here crying about the media, but I’m a grownup. This is much ado about not a whole lot. New Hampshire doesn’t determine the nominee.
Now that the white people have had their say, let’s get on to the real world. There are 48 (actually 52 including territories) more primaries and caucuses to go. Not a great start, but let’s not get dramatic.
14
I am generally amused by the comments of some people who appear to treat the black vote in America as if it were a fixed piece on a game board that simply has to be moved into place at the appropriate moment. Hillary had that view in 2008 and in 2016, she was wrong, Obama and turnout came as shocking surprises. I wonder whether Biden will be equally surprised in South Carolina.
8
@IAK
Neither Obama nor the importance of turnout in 2016 surprised anyone, much less shockingly so. Biden has a 14-point advantage on the Bern in S.C. If he loses there, then we can worry.
Glad to keep you amused.
I have been a supporter of Joe Biden since he announced his bid for the presidency, but I am extremely disappointed in his recent performances. I believe that he should have taken it to the Trump's crew when they were asking for him as a witness. He could have called their bluff and volunteered to be a witness if Trump or even Mulvany would also be witnesses. I believe he made a very big mistake in letting the Democrats in Congress do his defense for him.
I don't believe there is anything there, but so far he hasn't strongly answered for his son and I believe now he will be very much on the defensive if he even gets to a debate with Trump.
It seems to me that Biden is not sure how to present himself. Either he's undecided or he's getting bad advice. In either case I'm rethinking my support of him, I'm just not sure who can beat Trump at this point. Hopefully the next couple of primaries will answer that question.
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@VMG I agree. The House managers should have called the Senate’s bluff and said, sure, let’s call Hunter and Joe Biden and also Bolton and Mulvaney. Then we could have gotten a closer look at the real corruption. I heard an interview on NPR with a corn farmer hurt by Trump’s policies and he said he couldn’t support Biden because he didn’t trust him. It’s depressing to think that in the end Trump got exactly what he wanted.
17
@VMG. Biden is a victim of age more than Trump. There is clearly some cognitive issues going on (as there are with Trump, but Republicans admire incoherence).
Biden's time has passed and talented younger politicians like Amy and Pete are formidable competition. I suspect Biden will be out after Super Tuesday, and putting country before ego will be an enthusiastic campaigner for democrats this fall.
19
@Sparky
if so, that would be bad news... Buttigieg is just as much of a reelection ticket for Trump as Bernie is. Joe needs to stay in the race.
4
Trump seems to be getting what he wanted, Biden may very well not be the nominee.
5
@Brendan Varley - trump went after the easy target first -- easy, because he was establishment. did the same with graham and bush in '16. took them down first, then went after cruz, paul and christie.
trump understands that people are angry at the establishment, the status quo, the "elites", whatever. for all the bluster, he can't look at the polling v. sanders and feel confident. he knows it will be a hard race, no matter who is nominated.
1
For the good of our nation and the preservation of our democracy, Biden should drop out immediately and endorse Bloomberg—the one candidate who can match trump word for word and dollar for dollar and put an end to this nightmare.
40
Joe has Hunter reminding voters that an unqualified son
got a job in the Ukraine that paid him more per month
than most American's make in a year, for doing next to nothing.
Joe has been on the political scene too long and it time for
him to step aside so Amy K can become the front runner.
Do the right thing Joe.
100
Klobuchar is polling even worse than Buttigieg among Black voters. She has shown little effort or even interest in appealing to this demographic. Bloomberg is making inroads and is a much more viable candidate for the diverse Democratic base.
22
@John Brown
I get what you're saying, sort of.
I don't get how you can go after a man's son for sitting on a Board with no obvious qualification. What do you think spouses, children, friends of many of your favorite representatives in DC are doing?
In fact, we should insist on an annual, constantly updated list of every person related in anyway to any government official that includes their employment, positions on boards of corporations and charities, how they qualify for that spot, their salaries.
Though, frankly, if you believe even a tenth of board members world wide have some special qualifications for the job you're living in Never-land.
Then no more questions. No more patently illegal (that is, impeachable) Presidential hiring political hit men. All problems solved.
And you'll see Hunter Biden did nothing unusual except have a father in Trump's sights.
16
@CP Klobuchar and Bloomberg are my two top candidates and both have had a tough time appealing to voters of color.
In fairness to Amy, she has been struggling full-time to fight another day in Iowa and NH. Now that she is in the top tier after the re-shuffling that has left Biden and Warren out, she has an opportunity to make inroads with black and brown voters.
8
The hotel experience should hopefully offer guidance: turn out the lights Joe.
5
Biden should be a staunch supporter and counsel for whomever the Dems choose ... and be a lead stomper in those battleground states where his word still carries lots of weight ...
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@Steve of Albany Agreed! If Biden falls out after Super Tuesday, I believe he will be a true patriot and top cheerleader for our nominee.
6
@Steve of Albany Or will he do what Bernie did, throw a tantrum and not support the eventual nominee, which in 2016 were 3 states Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. This charade allowed Trump to win and occupy the White House because Bernie Bros didn't want to vote blue no matter who. Now here we are.
7
@Steve of Albany
And rally the black and Latino voters, where his support is strong.
1
Originally he was my clear choice. I believed he could thump Trump. Now after watching his stumbling incoherent performances on the national stage, it's clear he's past his prime and his garrulous rambling and question avoidance won't win for us in November. An almost octogenarian nice guy with solid bona fides will need more than a nice smile to whip the Donald. And his acceptance of his son's terrible judgement in Ukraine will give the "orange one" fuel for the funeral pyre where he'll roast "Sleepy Joe." Folks we're in trouble, Joe was never the answer, just a pipe dream.
300
@Lawrence Siegel Agreed. Besides, he should had said many many times: "look guys, Trump is so afraid of me that he impeached himself to avoid facing me in a presidential election. Think about that". Or something on those lines but he remained mostly silent. He should had offered to testify with his son and call the Republicans bluff, but he did nothing of the sort (at least in a very public and repetitive manner). He does not have what it takes to defeat Trump. I don't know who is the proper person for that at this point, but I know it is not him.
4
@Lawrence Siegel I was waiting to see when someone would bring up his son and the issues with Ukraine. Even without Trump, I have a feeling that many Americans - regardless of political persuasion -- are fed up with wealthy, influential families putting their inexperienced/ uneducated (i.e. they're working a field they have no background in) children in positions of authority that they would not belong in had they not possessed the proper last name or pedigree. The country was roiled by the university admissions scandals with many demanding prison/ longer sentences for the parents involved. Trumps, Bidens getting their positions is just a variation on that song.
2
The good voters of NV and SC aren't stupid. They are looking for viability.
Even though IA and NH are small, rural, white states, Biden's losses in those states reflect a distinct lack of viability.
Given that Buttigieg and Bloomberg are not viewed positively by Black voters, Klobuchar might have an opening.
(My beloved Elizabeth may not have much of an electoral future).
74
Bloomberg has 22% among Black voters. He is quickly overtaking Biden amongst that group and others.
10
@CP
According to which pollster and in which state? National polls are meaningless.
9
@Cousy That would be a Quinnipiac poll released a couple days ago: Biden 27%...Bloomberg 22%. And yes, national polls are somewhat meaningless at this stage, but they're equally meaningless for all the candidates involved. They're all we have except opinions.
4
Isn’t this the best possible result?
Biden could not pull out of the race without giving Trump a victory. But fading out does no such thing and robs Trump of the Hunter/Joe card. (Biden was also going to get killed in a debate with Trump.)
BTW Trump will refuse to debate any of the remaining men, but will, of course, debate any of the women.
9
@Angelus Ravenscroft I don't think Trump will debate at all. He only likes to be in front of people who have already sworn their loyalty.
5
With most Democrats mired in self doubt about choosing THE candidate to beat Trump, Biden's support dissolved when people realized his 'electability' rested on name recognition, vestigial warm feelings from a chummier, more bipartisan Senate past, and all those old memes showing he and Obama as BFFs.
Now, many voters are pin-balling themselves between other options, fretting over whether they'll made the right choice. Does Pete Buttigieg have the secret sauce to beat Trump? Klobuchar? The Republican Michael Bloomberg and his 11 figure fortune?
As for me, I'm sticking with the candidate who consistently beats Trump in every poll, including in swing states. The only one with movement backing. The candidate championing single payer healthcare, which the majority of those exit-polled in IA and NH support. The candidate whose climate plan is the only one that matches the scale of the climate crisis. You know who I'm talking about
26
@Ted B
Which poll?
Sofar only one clearly beats Trump.
And it aint your fella
5
@Ted B
The problem with relying on polls is that many of those who are polled are the pin-ballers themselves. Why should we use polls of pin-ballers to decide anything?
“Long the front runner” - until the first votes were cast.
186
@Me
Exactly correct. Proclaimed by the same learned prognosticators who assured an overwhelming HRC victory in 2016.
35
@Me It is literally amazing how out of touch the Democratic Party has continued to be throughout the past 4 years.
Have they learned nothing?
24
Biden is remiss if he still thinks he is a viable candidate for president on the democratic ticket. He is not and the proof is in New Hampshire.
53