Why is Mandela Barnes running away from Biden now of all times

[DLCWIdem]

Why isn't Mandela Barnes campaigning with Biden in Wisconsin. I could see this if Biden's numbers were as low as they were month ago. But with his numbers picking up I believe this sounds the wrong message. I believe we should be sending a message of solidarity.

[DFW]

1. I can only think of two reasons, both of them weak

One is that he is getting bad advice from his campaign staff, and the other is that he fears the power of the Wisconsin right wing to the point that he fears pissing them off by appearing with Biden just now.

Hint to Mandela Barnes--those right wing nut cases you fear pissing off--the aren't going to vote for you whether you show up with Joe Biden or not!! The only ones you WILL piss off are the swing voters who would like to see someone with the courage of their convictions, and not a pure poll reader. This one is yours to lose, don't hand RoJo the Clown another term just because a poll or two made you jump.

[qazplm135]

2. They (polls) are currently at 40 percent

like 7 points below Evers. Which is why Barnes is sticking closer to Evers than Biden.

Ultimately, whatever works is what works. Barnes is currently up in the polls so doesn't seem like he's doing much wrong right now.

We should be winning and doing everything we can to win, and that's not going to look the same in every race.

If Biden rises up to say 45, you might then see Barnes bring him in, otherwise, you probably won't, and that's fine.

[GoCubsGo]

3. Is he actually "running away" or does he just not need him?

It sounds to me like Barnes is holding his own. If you don't need Biden's help, why drag him up there, when he could be helping elsewhere, especially with COVID-19 still rampant. And, it's not like he doesn't have a gazillion other things to do...

[DLCWIdem]

5. Biden is already there

Barnes is deliberately avoiding him

[ColinC]

4. Candidates running away from the president in a midterm

...is one of the biggest faux pas made in every midterm.

[Hortensis]

6. Well, he -- and we -- do need to keep support of his "Progressive" voters,

and not all are exactly ardent admirers of Biden or the Democratic Party. Some very different political types wear that label.

And now that Barnes is the Democratic candidate, aren't mainstream Dems basically in the bag for him?

So my guess is that he's doing the usual high-wire balancing act of pols who have to have support from both the mainstream and nonmainstream factions. He's been toning down his far-left rhetoric and sounding more like, well, Biden for his senate race, as expected but no doubt frustrating and worrisome to some.

When I think about it, it's also possible that Biden's recent successes could be giving the kind of Progressives who see Democratic wins as losses for their ideals a "sad" -- even while enthusiasm and confidence are growing in others.

[BannonsLiver]

7. Whatever he needs to do to win

I’d rather have the W than purity style points.