BTRTN 2020 Vision: Biden Surviving and Mayor Pete Rising

[reggieandlee]

Born to Run the Numbers' newest installment of their "2020 Vision" series, summarizing the past month's key developments, changes in polling data, and overall trends in the race for the White House:

http://www.borntorunthenumbers.com/2019/04/btrtn-2020-vision-biden-surviving-and.html

Excerpts: "The month was dominated by a gut-check for Biden and the rise of Buttigieg. Biden became embroiled in controversy when a Nevada assemblywomen, Lucy Flores, accused him of inappropriate physical contact with her when he was campaigning in 2014. Video confirmed Biden’s traditional use of an old school, touchy-feely brand of retail politics. Biden was slow to respond, did not get it “right” off the bat, and was clearly reeling from the charges...There is little question that Biden was hurt by the issue, since, at the very least, it hit him in his biggest area of vulnerability, that he is old and out of touch with today’s values...
"Pete Buttigieg, quite simply, has broken through. And while he has a fascinating resume, it is not the resume that is causing the fuss. It is the man himself, how he speaks, his common-sense, straightforward take on the issues, his personal appeal, that is driving the “Mayor Pete” wave...Buttigieg made his formal announcement this past Sunday, and the reaction has been astonishing. The talk is of JFK and Obama, two previous winners who ran, respectively, on “the torch has passed to a new generation” and “hope and change” messaging.
"Buttigieg has jumped into Tier 2, leaping from 0% to 11% in Iowa, and from 0% to 3% nationally. No other candidates showed any similar movement up or down. Amy Klobuchar fell from Tier 2 to Tier 3, her candidacy sinking under the weight of negative press on how she treats her Senate staff, and her moderate message that may be well off the party’s lefty tendencies. Kristen Gillibrand has yet to make a mark..."

[patricia92243]

1. I'm afraid Biden has waited too long. That we need young leaders seems to

be firmly established in people's minds and will get more so as time goes on.