A poll by any other name is still merely speculation. Just ask any Democrat about the “I’m with her” landslide predicted in 2016 over the big bad billionaire. But the latest survey by NBC/WSJ should terrify the presumptive nominee and his numerous handlers and advocates. President Donald Trump’s approval numbers are a respectable 46% while Joe Biden’s are a cause for concern at 37%. But it gets much worse: While Trump is seen as unpopular and polarizing, Biden is failing to inspire the electorate, and many potential voters just don’t trust him.
Is it possible the Democrats are in possession of a candidate who seems more unpopular, more untrustworthy, more “just pinch your nose and vote” than Hillary Clinton?
A Flagging Campaign
The pollsters asked 100 registered voters of all creeds and colors a laundry list of questions, with several pointedly about handling the current COVID-19 pandemic. With his daily pressers, Trump is a solid ratings hit. Perhaps more for the combative tone he strikes against journalists than the information imparted. In comparison, Biden’s primary public outreach is his new podcast that rarely attracts more than 10,000 viewers.
But Joe Biden was President Barack Obama’s number two for a reason: he was the traditional candidate, slightly dull but seemingly a guy Americans could count on. Why has that changed in the minds of the electorate in 2020? Are Americans concerned about the appearance of forgetfulness, possible dementia, in the 78-year old, or is the press on Burisma Holdings and his ties to Ukraine?
However, we have arrived at this point in the political shift post-2016, and it would seem that Mr. Biden can’t find his groove – or resurrect his dependable image.
The survey indicates that Trump’s statements about the virus are considered earnest and trustworthy. Only 25% find Biden’s ramshackle discussions and plans believable. Going a step further, respondents ranked Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, Dr. Anthony Fauci, and the Centers for Disease Control higher than Biden when it comes to trust. How will Dems alter this perception by November? Will the media come to the rescue?
Biden’s less-than-exciting campaign and podcasts from his basement are alarming the drive-by media so much that Stephanie Ruhle of MSNBC offered a suggestion to Uncle Joe: Get busy already. She went so far as to demand Biden form a “shadow government” and take to the bully pulpit with a counter plan against Trump. She even outlined the first speech for the pretend commander in chief, “Here’s the crisis we’re in; here’s what we need to do to address this.”
But is a daily Biden briefing too risky? Mr. Biden has demonstrated that at times he doesn’t know what office he seeks or what “the thing, that thing” is, which most of us call the Declaration of Independence.
Bolster Support With a Running Mate
Are the Democrats waiting for an “ah-ha” moment to select a potential running mate? Biden himself has hinted at a woman to appease the feminist ranks, and several with a pulse have been bandied about the political water cooler. For one, Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA), who called Joe a racist. Another, suffering from an image as boring, Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), has been mentioned. The erstwhile First Lady Michelle Obama has sparked an outpouring of rumors as well. Or will the backroom decision-makers add Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) to the ticket and wait for the barrage of flaming arrows to take out Biden once and for all?
Liberty Nation’s Managing Editor Mark Angelides is closely following the race to be Biden’s bridesmaid:
“The choice of Biden's running mate is more important than almost any previous contender for two reasons. First, Joe's health issues, both mental and physical, could mean that any possible vice president has to be ready to step into the top spot from pretty much day one if he defeats President Trump; you can almost hear the 25th Amendment being researched right now. Second, the Democratic Party is so divided that the progressive wing will almost certainly insist on a member of their ranks being awarded the slot. Ideology over competence is a poor choice from the start.”
Given that rationale, one can imagine the panic settling into the hallowed marble halls of the Democratic National Committee. Uninspiring and untrustworthy people rarely get elected to president. But unpopular and trustworthy ones often do.
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Read more from Sarah Cowgill.
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