Biden's Warren problem

[brooklynite]

Axios

Joe Biden has an Elizabeth Warren problem.

The big picture: Warren is rising in national, battleground and state polls, electrifying liberals with her very specific and very liberal ideas — and she's well-positioned to undermine Biden, win or lose.
- Warren has the ability to unify the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, especially if she locks arms with AOC in attacking Biden’s more cautious and conventional politics.
- Even if she tops out, her politics are much closer to Bernie Sanders or Kamala Harris, so she could help lift another candidate over Biden with her endorsement and support.

Be smart: Biden’s people are worried about her rise, and feel they caught a break in not having to face her in the first debate.
- "Avoided her and thus avoided a potential first round TKO," a Biden confidant told me.

[dchill]

1. Sounds to me like Axios is trying to...

...dampen Warren's potential. That won't work.

[brooklynite]

2. OR (just spitballing), they're reporting on political news.

[dchill]

3. I see it as their take on it.

It's my privilege to second-guess.

[Bhkylib]

4. Warren is a Bernie problem, not Biden problem

Until Warren starts getting the black vote in any significant portion, she is not a threat...yet. For now, she is a mortal threat to Bernie because of New Hampshire. I just don't see her winning South Carolina.

[still_one]

5. Bingo!!!

[ecstatic]

21. The debate could change everything. I went from

not liking her to being solidly in her camp. One major reason is she's "keeping it real." I'm so tired of bullshit and fake answers meant to appease various audiences. Just say, truthfully, what you believe and what you will fight for. Take it or leave it. And I'm so glad she didn't walk back any of her statements on impeachment or Fox News.

[riverine]

6. This is a true statement:

Warren has the ability to unify the progressive wing of the Democratic Party,

But the progressive wing is only 30% of the party.

Traditional Democrats will provide an easy victory over the far left wing candidate.

[zipplewrath]

9. Unfortunately

You're absolutely correct. The majority of the party are the folks that nominated Kerry, Dukakis, Gore, Hillary...
We aren't the progressive party some of us want it to be. Probably never will be because the majority is afraid of large, transformative changes except in the most extreme of circumstances. So we'll forever be the party that has to "evolve" on serious issues. I guess I just yearn for the days when we did aggressive things like desegregating the southern states of the party despite the consequences in the short term. The party that nominated FDR and changed the party for ever since into the left leaning party it is today instead of the party of succession and Wilson (who segregated the army) of the past. Carter had an idea of who we should be, and he may not have been able to lead us there, but we've spent the last decades trying to figure out how.

[shanny]

19. we don't have that luxury (if that is what it is) anymore.

we are in the beginning of the "most extreme of circumstances" regarding climate change; we are already there in terms of income inequality and social unfairness. We deal with these things now, and not incrementally or ...fail...as a nation, and even as human civilization.

[zipplewrath]

22. The American Experiment

I'm afraid the American Experiment is failing, again. We had a huge upheaval with the American Civil War, and it caused a major course correction. I'm afraid this time there is no course correction to be had. The inmates are in charge of the asylum and there doesn't seem to be a way to get the keys back.

[BannonsLiver]

32. You're not looking for a party, you're looking for a time machine

Of course nostalgia is fun but it’s never as great as we remember or think it was.

[zipplewrath]

33. It was better than this

Unions were stronger. The democrats opposed wars. They stood for civil rights. And I don't just mean in the campaign.

[shanny]

11. Biden's support is around 35% of the party.

So, despite universal name recognition, affection and nostalgia, 65% of Democrats want someone else.

Perhaps the "traditional" wing is not as big as some think.

[zipplewrath]

23. Good point

I suspect no "wing" is as big as they would like to think. If there is a majority "wing", I suspect it's the "I don't pay attention until after the primaries" wing.

[shanny]

24. I agree.

I'm waiting for all (well, most) of the candidates to get a hearing on the national stage, however brief. And the primaries will be when the only polls that matter will come out.

[marylandblue]

15. I think you will be surprised at how the Democratic Party has shifted beneath our feet.

Centrists have been easily winning for years, so many we think that is way it must be. But people in general, not just progressives are dissatisfied on many levels, and when they are dissatisfied, they look for new solutions. The right has nothing to offer, therefore they are looking left.

IMO the signs of change are out there, but we won't know until one of the change candidates runs away with it.

[Bradshaw3]

26. Except she is not a "far left candidate"

And its wrong to paint her as such. Her message appeals to the traditional Democratic voter as well. And she has other advantages over Biden as well in appealing to a broad swatch of the electorate.

[riverine]

29. How is Senator Warren running "far left"?

A wealth tax for one (very far left)
Breaking up big company non-monopolies.
Reparations
Trillions in loan forgiveness, free college, free medical insurance, grants, etc

Her rhetoric does not match her agenda though - unlike Bernie Sanders.

[Bradshaw3]

31. If you think that is far left, you need to check out history

Teddy Roosevelt and FDR had the same type of policies for the times they faced the same kind of economic inequality we face today. It's also a slur to say her rhetoric does not match her agenda. Check out her web site. The issues sectin contains practical solutions to those issues.

It's interesting that more than one Biden supporters on here is trying to smear Warren with this far left charge - must be getting nervous that the coronation of Joe isn't a done deal.

[Cha]

7. If a "confidant" told someone who will blab..

about their friend's vulnerable, personal feelings about a rival.. he's not much of a confidant.. he's a leaker and a gossip.

[George II]

8. We don't need the "progressive wing" of the Democratic Party unified, we need.....

.....the DEMOCRATIC PARTY unified! We need Democrats to stick together, not take sides and insist on "purity".

[Demsrule86]

10. I believe Warren has a ceiling as did Sanders before and Biden will win by millions of votes in the

end. I want to win and if new polling is to believe it is likely that sexism could cause us to lose with a woman candidate...so ridiculous that.

[cannabis_flower]

25. Unless of course...

It's Joe Biden who has a ceiling!

[redstateblues]

12. I like Warren but I worry that she can't win in the General

It’s just a feeling but she has some vulnerability that causes me concern.

[Thekaspervote]

13. Sad but most likely true. Hillary has said several times that America is not ready for a woman POTUS

[Bhkylib]

14. I agree. I don't see Warren getting 270

Biden would have a much easier time getting to 270.

[marylandblue]

16. I think she is being underestimated.

[True Dough]

28. Absolutely, positively

And underestimating the competition has led to many a downfall.

[Blue_true]

17. Biden had better harden up his chin, because he WILL face her in a debate soon. nt

[Bhkylib]

18. Biden has probably been in 100 debates in his lifetime

I don't think he's scared of any one person, period. Biden in a debate is the least of my worries with him.

[Green Line]

20. Warren can't win the general

She won’t win the states we need.

[Bradshaw3]

27. Sensing a real of fear of Warren on here

From the Biden supporters. All the inaccurate painting of Warren with the brush of "far left" and "can't win" tells me they are worried about her.

[hueymahl]

30. I would love a Biden-Warren ticket

Don't see how that loses.