As Possible Rivals Pass On 2020 Race, Biden May See A Path Clearing

[DonViejo]

March 9, 20197:00 AM ET

JESSICA TAYLOR

After a flurry of people jumping into the presidential race, this past week a rare thing happened: A bunch of people jumped out. But their decision to pass on the race could be an indication an even bigger candidate is close to launching a campaign — former Vice President Joe Biden.

Biden has made no secret that he's serious about a run at the White House, after bowing out four years ago following the death of his son. Questions remain about how much the former Delaware senator, who would be almost 78 on Election Day, could appeal to a changing Democratic Party that's awash in a desire for a younger, progressive candidate to energize its base.

But the potential candidates who passed this week would have offered voters some of the same attributes as Biden, and their decisions to sit out 2020 may signal a clearing of the field for the elder statesman. The New York Times, citing officials familiar with the discussions, reported on Thursday that Biden's chief strategist has recently called several potential candidates to tell them Biden is "95 percent committed to running."

Around the time that story ran, a trickle of "no's" began. Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, a former Republican and independent, announced he wouldn't run on Tuesday. Bloomberg is more of a centrist who has been known to reach across the aisle — as Biden often did during his decades in the Senate, in addition to retaining close friendships with Republicans. The Times also reported that Bloomberg's advisers saw Biden as major hurdle, with many focus groups fawning over Biden's "Uncle Joe" persona.

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https://www.npr.org/2019/03/09/701773316/as-possible-rivals-pass-on-2020-race-biden-may-see-a-path-clearing?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=news

[shanny]

1. The clearing of that "lane" may indicate

not a clearing of the field for Biden but the recognition that that lane is a dead end. I don't think there is much support for a blast-from-the-past moderate Dem beyond nostalgia and name recognition. And I think this race will be a referendum not just on tRump but on past policies as well.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

2. Yes, which splains the decision by Hillary, and others in that category, not to run.

There are a whole host of progressive Democrats running this time to whom the baton has been passed and who are ready to deliver a matching progressive agenda that the people of this country are demanding.


Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[shanny]

6. +1

[StevieM]

8. Hillary didn't make a decision against running, she was never contemplating a run to begin with.

In any event, the baton has not been passed to anyone. The baton is up in the air until the people select a nominee. Then the baton gets passed.

And even then the candidate has to win the GE. And then negotiate with congress for 4-8 years in the White House, often being disappointed upon not getting everything that they want.

[Hortensis]

7. :) Or not. I really don't think Democrats are dropping

out to stop Biden or handicap him or whatever the imagining is.

All those who are saying a Biden run would be a referendum on past policies are, of course, correct. Histories are always mined for ammunition and material to be re-formed into ammunition, and Biden's extends back through a number of misty, distant pasts that would be especially useful for misleading and confusing voters who weren't even born yet.

Biden's performance around the Clarence Thomas nomination really doesn't look good all by itself, and that's even understanding the historic context. How will it be made to appear to all those who never will?

[Freddie]

3. Fresh face please

I think he would be a great President. But there’s lots of baggage, especially his ties to big banks and student loans. And the Bernie folks can’t wait to tar him as “another corporate Hillary”. Here we go again.
My dream ticket is Inslee/Warren. Inslee/Harris would be great but I’m not sure about 2 from the West Coast appealing to the places we need votes from.

[Gothmog]

4. I like Joe Biden and May support him

[Garrett78]

5. Bloomberg had no business getting in the race and it's hard to say why Brown didn't get in the race.

It's long been speculated that Biden would run. Yet as far as I know, O'Rourke and Bullock are still leaning toward running. Hickenlooper jumped in the race recently. Michael Bennet and others may run.