Eric Boehlert says the NYT's coverage of Biden is reminiscent of their coverage of HRC in 2016

[highplainsdem]

Thread starting here, a comment on the Times' story on Biden supposedly facing an "enthusiasm challenge" in Iowa.

Link to tweet

curious. second NYT article in few days abt Biden troubles in Iowa ....where Biden leads in every poll.



I have no idea who will win Iowa. but the notion that a newsroom would look at person leading in every Iowa poll and start writing abt their Iowa troubles is....odd



reminiscent of Hillary 2016 coverage

[hlthe2b]

1. Indeed it is...

[elleng]

2. PROLE, Iowa -- Joseph R. Biden Jr. is coasting in the national polls. Surveys show him ahead

of his Democratic rivals in hypothetical matchups against President Trump. He has maintained a lead in Iowa all summer, despite facing months of controversies over his record and his campaign missteps.

But less than two weeks before Labor Day, when presidential campaigns traditionally kick into high gear, there are signs of a disconnect between his relatively rosy poll numbers and excitement for his campaign on the ground here, in the state that begins the presidential nominating process.

In conversations with county chairs, party strategists and dozens of voters this week at Mr. Biden’s events, many Democrats in Iowa described a case for Mr. Biden, the former vice president, that reflected shades of the one his wife, Jill Biden, bluntly sketched out on Monday. “You may like another candidate better, but you have to look at who is going to win,” she said, citing Mr. Biden’s consistent lead in early surveys.

The first ad of Mr. Biden’s campaign, released this week in Iowa, flashed some of his positive poll results against Mr. Trump on screen, and voter after voter cited those numbers in outlining their support for him, saying that defeating the president was their most urgent priority.

That stands in stark contrast to the way voters explain their support for candidates like Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, who drew 12,000 people to an event this week in Minnesota, Iowa’s northern neighbor, or Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who also draws large crowds and maintains a core base of die-hard fans.

They and others trail Mr. Biden in most polls and face plenty of their own skeptics, but they also have followings rooted in zealous support for their ideas rather than the political calculus that many voters describe in assessing Mr. Biden.

The former vice president certainly has devoted fans, in Iowa and around the country, and continues to enjoy good will and respect from Democratic voters.

But the risks of a campaign argument that is heavily reliant on strong poll numbers, which can be fickle in a tumultuous election, were on vivid display throughout Mr. Biden’s trip to Iowa, as voters repeatedly emphasized that their support for him was closely linked to what they perceived as his strength against Mr. Trump.'>>>

[Cha]

3. Yeah, they're not too original.. now

we have an ".. enthusiasm gap.. " from them.

Thank you, Eric Boehlert!

Mahalo, highplains !

[comradebillyboy]

4. Bad but not nearly as vicious as the treatment Hillary got...

[Thekaspervote]

5. Yet... Because her a man? Yes I support Biden, it isn't a dig. Just still really pissed over 2016

The NYT digital offerings are down by 40% save cooking and travel. Do ya think they are getting the message??!!

[comradebillyboy]

6. No, I agree the Times is being quite unfair to Biden. It's their

pattern. They pulled the same shit on Al Gore in 2000 as well. And on Bill Clinton in 1992.

[StevieM]

8. Agreed. The way they treated her was despicable. (eom)

[Scurrilous]

7. K&R

[mcar]

9. NYT can't help itself, it seems

[Hassin Bin Sober]

10. Wait, we are attacking the New York Times now?

[Celerity]

12. thread winner (for now)

And you already know I am not at all a Sanders fangirl, but I can see the double standard being applied.

Cheers

[gulliver]

11. "Enthusiasm" is a media value that they try to overlay on our elections.

The media needs excitement, because they need eyeballs. Well, they think they need excitement.

This is how we end up with a guy like Trump in the White House.

[Scurrilous]

13. ...

[treestar]

14. Yes. It worked with Hillary

so mindlessly they do it again.