The problem with this argument is "Union Guy" Joe Biden was running on a more populist economic message pre-debate and was set to lose worse than she did.
I do agree the "vibes" and charisma often matter more than strict ideological lines, but I think it's clear the American public isn't juiced by class war rhetoric-they want fairness. I'…
The problem with this argument is "Union Guy" Joe Biden was running on a more populist economic message pre-debate and was set to lose worse than she did.
I do agree the "vibes" and charisma often matter more than strict ideological lines, but I think it's clear the American public isn't juiced by class war rhetoric-they want fairness. I'm not saying pivot to Jeff Summers-esque bullshit, but I keep coming back to this . . . Biden ran the most economically left/progressive administration since the 60s, and voters responded with "screw him!"
That all said, when I say "moderate" I'm referring moreso to culture war, criminal justice and immigration issues. Personally I think Biden hit near a perfect mark re: economics but it's clear I'm in a minority there.
As I said, messaging and candidate charisma is the primary driver. Biden was always a mediocre communicator. The octogenarian version of Biden was a uniquely dreadful communicator, incapable of articulating the kind of message that would move votes. Harris had a double challenge of digging out of the hole Biden left her and the party in....and the miserable identity crisis the Democrats have found themselves in during the Trump era where they had to be instructed by Gretchen Whitmer to talk about the economy in Michigan against their instincts of avoiding conflict with the managerial class who they felt dependent upon for victory.
The problem with this argument is "Union Guy" Joe Biden was running on a more populist economic message pre-debate and was set to lose worse than she did.
I do agree the "vibes" and charisma often matter more than strict ideological lines, but I think it's clear the American public isn't juiced by class war rhetoric-they want fairness. I'm not saying pivot to Jeff Summers-esque bullshit, but I keep coming back to this . . . Biden ran the most economically left/progressive administration since the 60s, and voters responded with "screw him!"
That all said, when I say "moderate" I'm referring moreso to culture war, criminal justice and immigration issues. Personally I think Biden hit near a perfect mark re: economics but it's clear I'm in a minority there.
As I said, messaging and candidate charisma is the primary driver. Biden was always a mediocre communicator. The octogenarian version of Biden was a uniquely dreadful communicator, incapable of articulating the kind of message that would move votes. Harris had a double challenge of digging out of the hole Biden left her and the party in....and the miserable identity crisis the Democrats have found themselves in during the Trump era where they had to be instructed by Gretchen Whitmer to talk about the economy in Michigan against their instincts of avoiding conflict with the managerial class who they felt dependent upon for victory.