Teflon Joe: Alleged gaffe gives Biden boost in poll

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Cable TV pundits and Seattle's Facebook liberals have been aghast at ex-Vice President Joe Biden's ode to "civility" and recollection that he worked in the 1970's with arch-segregationist Southern Sens. James Eastland and Herman Talmadge.

"Do people honestly think this guy is electable?" asked 34th District Democratic activist Ivan Weiss.

Ezra Eickmeyer, a consultant, thundered: "Joe Biden has been at the center of some of the nation's most reprehensible decisions and policies for decades."

One problem for the anti-Biden left. The alleged gaffe about working with Dixiecrat Southerners has actually helped Biden with ordinary voters.

Nor do other alleged gaffes, like being a toucher of women on the dais or Biden's flip-flop on the Hyde Amendment, seem to have hurt him.

A Politico/Morning Consult survey asked voters whether the Eastland-Talmadge story would make any difference, or make them more or less likely to vote for Biden.

The results: 41% of those polled said it would make no difference. Eighteen percent said they would be less likely to vote for Joe. But 29% answered that they would would be more likely to support Biden.

Two prominent African-American members of Congress -- Reps. James Clyburn, D-South Carolina, and John Lewis, D-Georgia -- have come to Biden's defense. Clyburn has even recalled instances when he worked with the late arch-segregationist Sen. Strom Thurmond.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/teflon-joe-alleged-gaffe-gives-biden-boost-in-poll/ar-AADpF4U

[BlueTsunami2018]

1. No one was fooled by the manufactured "controversy".

No one who matters anyway.

[Demsrule86]

2. So true.

[Cary]

3. Thank goodness

Maybe we've learned something?

[shanny]

4. OK. I am not a fan

as I am sure is abundantly clear.

But can someone explain to me why they think "Teflon" is a good modifier, in this instance? It entered the lexicon with (iirc) Teflon Don Gotti, a mob boss who was guilty as hell but difficult to catch, and was also applied to our Teflon Preznit, St Ronnie of the Raygun.

Granted I'm old and crabby but, really?

[Doitnow]

5. I keep thinking of how teflonish 45 is. Not an admirable trait in my book.

[shanny]

6. IKR?

Why would our side like to brag about that?

[mtnsnake]

8. I can explain the teflon moniker, shanny....

The reason the Biden supporters are trying their best to affix the label of "Teflon" to Joe Biden is most likely because Bill Clinton was called "The Teflon Candidate," and they are fantasizing that Joe is as capable a campaigner as Bill, who was one of the best campaigners in modern history. The only one arguably better on the campaign trail was Obama. Unfortunately, Biden is not a very good campaigner, as evidenced by his 2 previous presidential runs where he lost or dropped out, so the Teflon thing doesn't work very well for Joe, unfortunately.

[shanny]

11. in my view that's a good thing:

Biden IS a lousy campaigner and definitely NOT who we need at this time. But yeah, I see now it is a defense mechanism/spin move.
It goes along with him limiting his appearances.

btw: what mountains, mtnsnake? your pic looks like familiar country

[Demsrule86]

14. I worked 08 and 12 where Biden and Bill Clinton save President Obama's reelection hopes...Biden is

a great campaigner...one of the best.

[shanny]

21. Oh sure. I totally believe that.

His runs in '88 and '08 and this year demonstrate that. Definitively.

[Demsrule86]

43. Different world in 88. He yas run a smart campaign...and is winning this year.

As for 12...believe. internal polls were really bad...Biden and Clinton saved Obama's bacon.

[LanternWaste]

45. Post hoc ergo prompter hoc.

Definitively.

[Cha]

19. Actually, the poster has no clue what he's

talking about.

I hate "Teflon" "affixed" to anything. The "Teflon" in this title thread comes from the article. Do you think they're Biden fans?

And, that's your opinion, shanny, about how Biden campaigns.

[mtnsnake]

37. shanny, that was from a hike I did up Dix Mountain in the Adirondacks.

I took that shot from the top of one of its slides. Long day, tough on the old legs on the way back down. Fantastic views from the top.

[Cha]

18. No, you can't explain that at all. I don't like "teflon"..

And, it's the name of the article in this case. Are they suppose to be Biden supporters, too?

The other "Teflon" title was from someone who is "undecided".

[Otto Lidenbrock]

26. Bill and Biden share one thing

Personality

That's where the likeability label comes in. Biden can stuff a response to an interviewer but then head over to the gathered audience taking pictures, shaking hands, making small talk and hearing their stories and answering their questions which never make it to the wider public through the press. But we see it in the anecdotes.

Bill Clinton in 92 did that really well because his relationship with the press was not that solid. They tried to "gotcha" him a few times so he just relied on his personal touch with voters to come through.

[Demsrule86]

44. Good point and true.

[honest.abe]

9. If you recall Bill Clinton was called the "teflon candidate" back in the 90's...

and it wasnt meant in any negative way at all. He was so good at fighting back that no negative attacks stuck to him. Biden is similar in that he is simply seen as the best candidate and nothing that he has said or done has affected that. That is a good sign to me since we know there are going to be "gaffe" issues and attacks against him during the general so the fact he can emerge unscathed now during the Dem primary suggests he will be able do the same in the general.

[shanny]

13. "simply seen as the best candidate"...by his fans. 'nuff said

[honest.abe]

15. He has alot fans..

'nuff said.

[shanny]

20. Sure.

And yet, with all of his fans, and name recognition, and the affection he has earned with Democratic voters, 65-ish% want Somebody Else.

Including you.

'nuff said.

[honest.abe]

24. You know that is an illogical argument.. right??

Polling at 35% at this point is remarkable when there are 25 candidates. Furthermore if 35% is considered poor, how much worse off are all the other candidates who are nowhere near that number.

My preferred candidate is Harris but I will be thrilled with Biden if he is our nominee which seems very likely.

[shanny]

28. Do point out the illogic. I'm all ears.

OK. I'm not serious.

35% or so of Democratic voters prefer Biden. That is what the polls show, on average.
Ergo 65% Don't prefer Biden.

Where, exactly, is the illogic there?
That is not logic, it is MATH.



apropos of nothing, my candidate is fond of math.

[honest.abe]

29. Good grief must I explain how primaries work??

As candidates drop out or as they appear to be hopelessly losing, voters will migrate to their second choice. From what I have seen Biden is the second choice for many of those who are supporting other candidates. That will likely put him over the 50% mark sometime early in the primary process.

[shanny]

32. Good grief are you changing the parameters of the discussion?

And here I thought we were talking about LOGIC.

Buh-bye

[Cha]

27. Amazingly with all the m$m and those

around here trying to tear down Joe Biden.. he's holding his own since he entered the race.



https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287165262

[Cha]

12. I don't like it, either.. but in this case it's

the title of the article.

[quickesst]

7. Biden is not Teflon Joe....

When his opposition uses out of context statements, stupid hugging allegations, and proven outright lies to attack him, he doesn't need any teflon to protect him. Those attacks will fail with the weight of their own dishonesty.

[Cha]

16. Exactly, quickesst.. Well said!

[quickesst]

34. Thanks Cha

As long as they want to keep setting them up, we'll keep knocking them down. So far, I would classify the arguments against Joe Biden as 70% pettiness, and 30% untruths. I'm trying hard to understand why some people believe that is a good strategy.

[Cha]

35. They keep grabbing

at anything that looks like it might hurt Biden. They must be so frustrated that, so far, he keeps weathering the storms, that are only making him stronger, and toughening him up for the GE.. if it turns out he is our nominee!

I'm actually impressed!

[quickesst]

38. "I'm actually impressed!"

Indeed

[Vegas Roller]

10. This sums it all

Joe is da man

[oasis]

17. Today's Lesson: Don't bring weak "gotcha" if you want to get Joe.

[Cha]

22. Don't come for

Joe Biden unless he sends for you..

[oasis]

23. True dat!

[honest.abe]

25. HA! The "gaffes" actually helped him. Maybe Biden is playing 12 dimensional chess here.

Probably learned it from his pal Barack.

[mr_liberal]

30. There's no doubt it helps in the general election because it makes him seem moderate and bipartisan.

Its not just talk, its proof.

Im not convinced it hasn't hurt him in the primaries a little though because all these polls Im seeing seem old. The controversy was just last week and many of the polls seem like they're from just before that, or at least several of the days they polled are from before that. Also it takes a while for a gaffe to have impact, it doesn't happen right away.

[Skya Rhen]

39. *** New (B+ Rated) Emerson College Poll *** Biden 34% (up 1), Bernie 24% (up 2), Warren 14% (up 4)

Joe Biden continues to hold his announcement bounce, and has gained a point since May – now holding 34% of the vote, followed by Senator Bernie Sanders who moved up 2 points to 27%.

Senator Elizabeth Warren has broken away from the rest of those running, into 3rd place – improving from 10% of the vote up to 14%. Senator Kamala Harris comes in fourth with 7%, Mayor Pete Buttigieg is in fifth with 6%, and Senator Cory Booker follows in sixth with 3% of the vote.

All other candidates poll at 1% or lower. The data was collected June 21-24, and has a margin of error of +/-4.5% for the Democratic primary.


http://emersonpolling.com/2019/06/24/june-national-poll-all-eyes-on-the-democratic-debates-biden-sanders-and-warren-separate-from-the-field/

*** N.B. that this poll was taken during the days after the smear attacks on Biden

[mr_liberal]

40. That's better, but still a little too soon. Id give it a week.

I say that based on following other elections.

It happened on the 18th and didnt start being reported until the 19th. A lot of people don't hear about it until days later, and take days to form an opinion.

Some of these polls Im seeing are from starting on the 17th though and people are using them as proof it had no impact.

Yours is the most recent I've seen.

[LakeArenal]

31. Good news for Joe brings out the haters and the baiters

Just seems to raise his numbers.

[asiliveandbreathe]

33. Are nicknames for Dem candidates now the norm....????? n/t

[dsp3000]

36. Because the reason for the outrage is manufactured BS

Sorry, these drive-bys aimed at biden are ridiculous

[wyldwolf]

41. Just win, baby!

[SouthernProgressive]

42. "Alleged gaffe"

Only to those desperate enough to think they are gaffes.

[LongtimeAZDem]

46. It is truly pathetic that some on our side see a willingness to work with others as a "gaffe"