Deep cracks emerge in Biden's firewall

[Voltaire2]

One South Carolina lawmaker says she switched allegiances after warning several Biden staffers that their grassroots approach was outdated.

CHARLESTON, S.C. — His message is uninspiring. His ground game is flawed. After Iowa and New Hampshire, they’re no longer convinced he can beat Donald Trump.

Interviews with two dozen South Carolina lawmakers, consultants and voters here suggests there are deep cracks in Joe Biden’s firewall state, where his campaign expects to turn his misfortunes around with a robust victory that highlights his broad-based support — particularly among African Americans.

No one denies the state has an affinity for the former vice president to Barack Obama. Biden boasts endorsements from nearly 200 black South Carolina community figures and state and national legislators, a testament to his decades-long relationships with many leaders here. And he’s led in every single public poll in the state over the past year.

But his advantage has gradually eroded. In a state where African Americans cast 61 percent of the primary vote in 2016, a February Quinnipiac poll showed Biden's support among African-Americans at 27 percent — a 22-point slip from before the Iowa caucus. While almost no one is willing to predict a Biden defeat here, many point to worrisome signs about the state of his campaign.

https://www.politico.com/news/2020/02/15/joe-biden-south-carolina-firewall-114862

[True Blue American]

1. You hope?

[calguy]

2. If Joe disappoints.....

we have a solid plan B in Mr. B. Mr. Mike. Mr. Bloomberg. Bloomberg is a bigger threat to Bernie than Joe.

[honest.abe]

3. +1

The Bernie gang is desperately trying to disqualify Bloomberg. If they were so confident in their candidate they would let Bloomberg be as it appears he is hurting Joe more than anyone else at this point.

[thesquanderer]

9. re: "If they were so confident in their candidate they would let Bloomberg be"

I'm not sure who (or how many) in the "Bernie gang" are trying to "disqualify" him, or exactly what you think they're trying to do, but regardless of whether they think Bloomberg's presence is good or bad for Joe, it makes sense--if they are going to be true to their convictions as opposed to merely playing a political game--that, on principle, they would object to the perception that someone is trying to buy themselves into the presidency. Same with Warren.

Sometimes it can really be about what someone believes, and not just politics. Sanders and Warren both basically talk about how the political system is bought and paid for. It makes no sense for them to support someone like Bloomberg buying their way into power, even if it does indeed hurt Biden more than it hurts them. Because it is an example pf exactly the kind of thing they rail against, the power of the wealthy to game the system. Sanders talks about it more in strictly economic terms, Warren speaks about it more in the language of corruption, but they are both fundamentally focussed on the same thing... who has all the money, and what that amount of money lets people do.

[Nanjeanne]

11. And it's interesting that both Sanders and Warren, among Dem have the highest

Polling in The Who Shares Values question in latest Ipsos poll. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2020/02/15/bernie-sanders-tops-other-democrats-trump-likability-ipsos-poll/4754500002/

Among voters who identified as Democrats, 64% said Sanders shared their values compared to 55% for Warren, 53% for Biden, 50% for Buttigieg and 46% for Bloomberg.

[honest.abe]

12. Well if you feel that way then support your preferred candidate whom you think is more noble.

There is no need to trash a candidate just because he is getting traction.

[Voltaire2]

5. yeah mr. stop-and-frisk is a sure winner.

[Loki Liesmith]

7. He's almost certainly got my vote

[Autumn]

8. "Mr. B. Mr. Mike. Mr. Bloomberg" is a sure winner for 4 more years. But as long as he takes

Bernie out it's all good.

[Autumn]

6. So your only plan is to take Bernie out? Not to win the White House, not to take out Trump. The plan

is to take out Bernie?

calguy

2. If Joe disappoints.....
View profile
we have a solid plan B in Mr. B. Mr. Mike. Mr. Bloomberg. Bloomberg is a bigger threat to Bernie than Joe.

[thesquanderer]

4. re: "His message is uninspiring"

I think that may be the crux of Trump's strength... among those he appeals to, he has the qualities of an inspirational figure. Of course, Obama had tons of that. It's not just message, where I admit I will probably always tend to find moderates uninspiring ("Good Enough! Good Enough!" ), but it's also presentation.

[UniteFightBack]

10. Of course when you have a fake president spreading lies and will do anything to destroy you and then

from the left you got Bloomberg cutting in when he should be throwing his support behind Joe.

I DO HOPE Bloomberg gets the nomination then since Biden wasn't good enough for y'all...!!

I'll be laughing since I'm no purist and just want to win ...LAUGHING.. BECAUSE SANDERS WILL NEVER WIN HE ONLY HAS A VERY SMALL FRACTION OF ACTUAL DEMOCRATS ON HIS SIDE.

[Still In Wisconsin]

13. I know you're hoping Joe just goes away, but he won't.

He's got a lot of admirers across the country. At some point he might drop out, but if you think all of his supporters are going to suddenly jump over and become Bernie Bros, you're going to be sorely disappointed.