'Barack picked him for a reason': South Carolina voters stand by Joe Biden after comments

[Scurrilous]

'Barack picked him for a reason': South Carolina voters stand by Joe Biden after comments about segregationist senators

<snip>

"Joe Biden spent the past week simmering in controversy after he used his ability to work with segregationist senators he disagreed with as an example of a more civil time in the US Senate.

Those comments drew a strong rebuke from his 2020 Democratic presidential rivals, but they barely amounted to a murmur here in the early primary state of South Carolina, where Democrats greeted the former vice president as their favorite son.

By virtue of his unique position as the former number two to the nation's first black president and his long history with the Palmetto State, Biden is leading his closest rivals in South Carolina polls -- an edge bolstered by his strong support among black voters who comprise more than 60% of the Democratic electorate here.

The deep well of affection and admiration for the former vice president was evident as soon as he rolled into Columbia Friday night for US Rep. Jim Clyburn's "World-Famous Fish Fry" and the South Carolina Democratic Convention, where Biden and some 20 other candidates gave their pitch to voters back-to-back at a series of events."

https://us.cnn.com/2019/06/23/politics/joe-biden-south-carolina-voters/index.html

[TwilightZone]

1. That's likely a common refrain.

A lot of people still have a lot of respect and admiration for President Obama, perhaps even more so now after a couple of years with President Disaster. As the article notes, Biden is in the unique position to benefit from that.

[Princetonian]

2. They are right. Barack calls Joe his brother and genuinely loves the guy.

Joe always had Barack's back too. Those who jumped on Biden to score cheap outrage points don't amount to a hill of beans.

You can forget about being chosen for VP too. Yes, that means you Cory, senator from my state.

[Scurrilous]

3. ...

[Kahuna7]

4. Lastest CBS/YouGov SC tracking poll, Biden 45%, Sanders 18%, Warren 8%, Harris 7%

https://www.cbsnews.com/video/cbs-news-poll-joe-biden-leads-as-top-choice-in-the-democratic-nomination/

[Scurrilous]

5. Thanks for that!

[NYMinute]

6. Thank you! nt

[FloridaBlues]

7. Thanks for posting this article.

[Scurrilous]

8. You're welcome.

[Kind of Blue]

9. That's great but right now, I'm also with Obama April 2019, "let new voices rise up."

“Obama believes a robust primary will be healthy for everyone, including Biden, and that it’s important to “let new voices rise up,” the source said. "The primary toughened me up, and gave voters a sense of how I stood up under pressure,” Obama wrote in a Facebook post last month. “The long primary process allowed me to make inroads in states like Indiana and North Carolina — states we eventually won in the general election. And it allowed me to spend more time in places like Kentucky and Rhode Island, which don’t usually get a lot of attention during elections but are crucial to a fuller understanding of America. The experience made me a better candidate, and ultimately, a better president.”
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/henrygomez/joe-biden-2020-obama

I'm ready for the robust this primary season.



video at https://us.cnn.com/2019/06/22/politics/jim-clyburns-fish-fry-presidential-candidates-attend/index.html

[Demsrule86]

11. I believe Biden is the only one who can win the states we need...and hold the house. Thus,

I will vote for the nominee...whoever that is and help get out the vote as I always do...but I doubt we win...I hope it doesn't happen or I am wrong...but numbers don't lie.

[Kind of Blue]

13. I have no argument with that but am not willing to concede so early

that Biden is the best we have to move the populace to oust 45. I'm willing to keep an open mind during this process, believe it or not I know what is at stake, and I choke up hoping against hope that you're right. No doubt whatever problem I have with Biden will be pushed aside to stop any counter against him if he is our candidate. But until then I want to see this 3X losing presidential contender strengthen his position quickly along the way in this season. And I hope you and other DUers will challenge we who have no faith in him now as I/we will challenge those who do.

[Demsrule86]

17. Your choice...suggest you check out the interecactive electoral maps...we need WI, MI and PA.

Who else can take these states besides Biden?

[Kind of Blue]

30. I have no answers right now and still listening

to a lot of candidates. I'm undecided before the debates and probably before the primaries. Biden has been down this road several times and may run with the nomination, so if he's your firm first choice that's really cool for you

[pnwmom]

14. "the states we need." You mean "the states we NEEDED."

The problem is it's never wise to try to fight the LAST war.

We don't know what states will turn out to be critical in 2020, or whether Biden would do the best in them.

[Demsrule86]

15. We have no path without those 'past' states...name the states that replace them.

We will lose in 24 too if we don't win back those states or are you one that really believes we take Texas and Georgia this cycle or in the next decade. With the blue wall and Virginia...we had a guaranteed win...but now that's blown to pieces and no candidate who has a shot besides Biden to take any of the blue wall states. Harris won't win in the rustbelt...she will be viewed as 'East Coast' (unfair to be sure ) Trump will resurrect Pocahontas...And her ideas won't fly in the rustbelt either. Harris will be viewed as West coast and her policies won't fly and she won't win PA...she just won't. That leaves nobody really. Biden can do it... but some are so convinced that this is the progressive moment despite moderate gains in the midterms that they risk reelecting Trump by picking a nominee who can't win. I will vote for and work for any nominee...but I really believe Biden is the only one with a chance.

[pnwmom]

21. That's not my point. Biden could lose some swing states that Hillary won.

You can't assume that he would automatically do as well as she did in every state -- which is what you are doing.

[Demsrule86]

22. What states? Nevada...don't think so. Virginia unlikely...what states? And what if a different

candidate wins all those Hillary states and loses the three blue wall states? We lose just like Hillary did. So where are the new states to give us a path coming from? And which of the multiple candidates can win in the rustbelt states other than Biden.

[Demsrule86]

23. Why not? He is polling well in the states she won...and as a perceived moderate,he will do well in

swing states...why do you think other candidates will win? And how will they do it? Biden is polling well in the blue wall states, Florida, Georgia...states Hillary didn't win...and Nevada as well...We could win in a landslide...pick a perceived leftist and we lose swing states and possibly the house. The house majority is made up of moderates don't forget. I live in Ohio and Biden is the only one who has a chance in Ohio.

[pnwmom]

25. Hillary was ALSO polling very well in all those states at this point in time -- BEFORE

the Russian interference, etc.

You keep assuming they won't have anything to throw at Biden, LOL.

Remember the pizza-parlor-pedophile scandal? They won't limit themselves to the truth. They will be well prepared to attack Biden.

[Demsrule86]

27. The other candidates are polling worse than Biden in all case...so are you saying, it is hopless?

While we need the same states...the election will be different as I do not believe third party spoilers will throw the election to Trump...You still have not told me where the path to victory is...if not through the blue wall.

[tymorial]

26. I am not currently supporting Biden but I do not believe this for a second

[Demsrule86]

16. Last point...it is not the 'last war'...we are in the exact same place as 16 needing to win three

states to deny Trump a victory...PA, WI and MI.

[TwilightZone]

31. The map won't be much different this time.

Most states are still safe one way or another. It will boil down to the same few states that were in play in 2016. Barring something completely unexpected, we need the same ones Trump narrowly won in 2016.

[pnwmom]

33. The 70K vote difference nationally between Obama 2012 and Hillary 2016 was largely due to

the dismantling of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, which resulted in the suppression of millions of votes, including hundreds of thousands in the three key states (which Trump carried by a total of 80K votes).

How is Biden specially positioned to overcome that? Anything we do to increase registration and to get Voter ID's in the hands of voters will help ANY Democrat who runs.

[Demsrule86]

18. New voices? Nope...I want to win...don't give a crap about 'new'...we need to get Trump out.

[Kind of Blue]

32. We want the same thing but right now

I'm with Obama on this. From the article even Biden, "asked President Obama not to endorse.” So I think he's ready to deal with the new voices.

“President Obama is excited by the extraordinary and diverse talent exhibited in the growing lineup of Democratic primary candidates,” a source close to Obama told Fox News Thursday. “He believes that a robust primary in 2007 and 2008 not only made him a better general election candidate but a better president, too. And because of that, it’s unlikely that he will throw his support behind a specific candidate this early in the primary process" - emphasis mine – "preferring instead to let the candidates make their cases directly to the voters.” https://www.thedailybeast.com/president-obama-praises-joe-biden-but-doesnt-endorse-2020-run

I'm with Biden and Obama.

[Demsrule86]

35. Oh please. Obama chose Biden.

That is simply false...a quick look at a senate map or an electoral map..show what kind of trouble we are in...Trump will win if we don't rebuild the blue wall...and not only in 20 but in 24. What some are missing is that we have no path to an electoral college win presently unless we rebuild the blue wall and retake MI, WI and PA. In my opinion, only Biden can do this and the more the current candidate move left, the less likely it is that they can win a general.

[Kind of Blue]

39. okey doke.

[Demsrule86]

10. Well well another failed attack on Biden.

[Vegas Roller]

12. Everyone sees Biden as Barack Obama's third term. nt

[Tarheel_Dem]

19. K&R

[peggysue2]

20. So, . . .

another brouhaha on social media. With the electorate? Not so much.

Joe Biden will have a target on his back throughout the primary season. He's the frontrunner; comes with the territory. How he handles these attacks and criticisms will be the measure of the man. And frankly, the measure of the finger-pointers.

It's going to get wa-a-ay more ugly the closer we get. I'm betting Joe Biden will remain standing when the dust settles.

[Cha]

24. "Rebuke" away "rivals".. Biden

has a successful history as President Obama's VP.. that's not going away because you "rebuke".

Looking at you, Sanders and Booker.

Mahalo for this, Scurrilous!

[Scurrilous]

29. ...

[Cha]

34. ..

[Skya Rhen]

28. Just wait until Obama starts campaigning with Biden after the primaries - it will be electric!!!

[UniteFightBack]

36. This hoo roo compared to real racial injustice etc...is BULLSHIT and the voters know that too. nt

[Maru Kitteh]

37. Barack Obama's steady hand and good judgement is one of the reasons I'm with Joe.

If he was good enough for President Obama, he's more than good enough for me!

[Scurrilous]

38. ...