Enjoyed being frustrated by the #ridinwithBiden perspective and found it not at all compelling:
Won't vs. Shouldn't Withdraw: It's ultimately Biden's decision, but we (the pro-democracy coalition) can shape the probability of whether he will or won't withdraw. Pushing withdrawal does have a cost and influence is not absolute, but it's sim…
Enjoyed being frustrated by the #ridinwithBiden perspective and found it not at all compelling:
Won't vs. Shouldn't Withdraw: It's ultimately Biden's decision, but we (the pro-democracy coalition) can shape the probability of whether he will or won't withdraw. Pushing withdrawal does have a cost and influence is not absolute, but it's simply not true that we can't influence Biden's calculus (okay not me per se, but prominent Dems, who can be influenced to try to influence Biden).
Biden Can Still Win: These arguments, including the "reverse coattails" point, may be true but are NOT arguments for Biden; they apply to any Dem! Question is who is most competitive?
Infrastructure & Logistics: A genuine but addressable concern. Bakari's points on money and ballot access seem to be factually wrong or overstated. Harris would inherit everything so the point would be completely moot. Alternatively, the Whitmer PA/MI/WI strategy limits the core infrastructure needed, and her regional infrastructure is likely strong; money won't be an issue.
Is Biden Capable?: Pointing to Biden's accomplishments doesn't prove his fitness for a second term. Tom Brady was a great quarterback, but he doesn't deserve to be the starting QB in the Super Bowl today (to extrapolate on Fetterman's argument for Biden). The fact that Bakari can't unequivocally say he has confidence in Biden's capacity to be President is exactly why Biden is unlikely to be able to convince swing voters to support him. We can do better!
OMG, the reverse coattails! Tammy Baldwin can help Biden in WI? I've NEVER heard a political strategist say such a thing. Tim said he would have someone with actual political experience. Sellers' only political experience is being an elected official. I was hoping for someone with political communications and strategy experience. Sellers does not have that. That is why he was wrong about the $$. I felt I was being spinned, not presented with a persuasive argument.
Spin vs. persuasive argument is a great framing, Sandy. I'd love to hear someone make a detailed pro-Biden case about the incumbency advantage, the convention chaos risk, the untested candidate without time to develop their trusted campaign team risk, etc. - all in the context of this Electoral College race as it stands. Please show me the math. I haven't seen that anywhere, and this talking point-level pablum (i.e., spin) doesn't come close to persuasive.
Enjoyed being frustrated by the #ridinwithBiden perspective and found it not at all compelling:
Won't vs. Shouldn't Withdraw: It's ultimately Biden's decision, but we (the pro-democracy coalition) can shape the probability of whether he will or won't withdraw. Pushing withdrawal does have a cost and influence is not absolute, but it's simply not true that we can't influence Biden's calculus (okay not me per se, but prominent Dems, who can be influenced to try to influence Biden).
Biden Can Still Win: These arguments, including the "reverse coattails" point, may be true but are NOT arguments for Biden; they apply to any Dem! Question is who is most competitive?
Infrastructure & Logistics: A genuine but addressable concern. Bakari's points on money and ballot access seem to be factually wrong or overstated. Harris would inherit everything so the point would be completely moot. Alternatively, the Whitmer PA/MI/WI strategy limits the core infrastructure needed, and her regional infrastructure is likely strong; money won't be an issue.
Is Biden Capable?: Pointing to Biden's accomplishments doesn't prove his fitness for a second term. Tom Brady was a great quarterback, but he doesn't deserve to be the starting QB in the Super Bowl today (to extrapolate on Fetterman's argument for Biden). The fact that Bakari can't unequivocally say he has confidence in Biden's capacity to be President is exactly why Biden is unlikely to be able to convince swing voters to support him. We can do better!
OMG, the reverse coattails! Tammy Baldwin can help Biden in WI? I've NEVER heard a political strategist say such a thing. Tim said he would have someone with actual political experience. Sellers' only political experience is being an elected official. I was hoping for someone with political communications and strategy experience. Sellers does not have that. That is why he was wrong about the $$. I felt I was being spinned, not presented with a persuasive argument.
He's a lawyer. He spoke like a politician.
Spin vs. persuasive argument is a great framing, Sandy. I'd love to hear someone make a detailed pro-Biden case about the incumbency advantage, the convention chaos risk, the untested candidate without time to develop their trusted campaign team risk, etc. - all in the context of this Electoral College race as it stands. Please show me the math. I haven't seen that anywhere, and this talking point-level pablum (i.e., spin) doesn't come close to persuasive.
Thx, Alok. The elements of your detailed case are all good ones. Tim, do you know anyone who can do it???