# Is Joe Biden's campaign over before it starts? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [March 30, 2019, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-joe-bidens-campaign-over-before-it-starts/831783 "2019-03-30T21:31:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2019, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-joe-bidens-campaign-over-before-it-starts/831783/41 "2019-03-31T15:31:55Z")
> [@SmartAleq](#): > > Hmmm. Watch through the videos in [this thread](https://twitter.com/RAMRANTS/status/930065838387863552?s=19) and if you don’t feel queasy afterward then I guess Unca Joe is your kinda guy. I had to stop after just four or five of those clips. Seriously creepy shit going on there. He’s been able to do this stuff in situations where nobody was going to call him on it. Well, now he’s getting called on it, and it’s about freakin’ time. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2019, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-joe-bidens-campaign-over-before-it-starts/831783/42 "2019-03-31T15:34:13Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > **RTF** bullshit to your bullshit. Politicians hugging strangers, reaching out to kiss babies, and such has been SOP forever. Nothing sexual or intended as a power put down about it. I’m sure that’s been the case for most politicians. But something different is clearly going on with Joe. IOW, bullshit to your bullshit of my bullshit. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Lamoral](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lamoral/32/16078_2.png) [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2019, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-joe-bidens-campaign-over-before-it-starts/831783/43 "2019-03-31T15:48:09Z")
Just in the past week I’ve seen Democrats arguing that: Biden - the VP to one of the most successful and beloved presidents of my lifetime (I’m 32) - is an unacceptable candidate because he is too cozy with big corporations and he has touched women inappropriately. Pete Buttegieg - an erudite, articulate young[er] man with phenomenal charisma and speaking presence - is unacceptable because he is too much of a centrist and he disagreed with Obama’s pardoning of Chelsea Manning. Sanders - an outright socialist with a groundswell of support and major name recognition - is either too old, too liberal, or too white to get elected. I wonder what the Republicans are arguing about? ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2019, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-joe-bidens-campaign-over-before-it-starts/831783/44 "2019-03-31T15:49:26Z")
Also please note that she posed for a picture with arms around each other, apparently fairly immediately before his kiss on the back of her head. (See the The Cut article.) This was not just coming up to a complete stranger from behind and kissing them on the back of the head. The level was already at a point that arms around each other was considered okay. Again, he was at fault for not realizing that a kiss on the back of the head might be considered more intimate than arms around each other, and at fault for not being aware of the power dynamic that many men (and women) in positions of relative power have been clueless about and many still are. But making that lack of realization something that decides who is or is not qualified to be our nominee would be beyond dumb. There are lots of reasons of substance to prefer a Harris or a Booker over Biden. IMHO, this is not one of them. OTOH, how he handles it can be telling as to his ability to handle all the other crap that a campaign will throw at him. And so far he has not done as well as he could. ---
**Author:** ![MortSahlFan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@MortSahlFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MortSahlFan)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2019, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-joe-bidens-campaign-over-before-it-starts/831783/45 "2019-03-31T15:53:30Z")
I don’t think he should run, because the minute he does, I’m sure there will be MORE stuff that comes out. Even now, I keep seeing all these video compilations of Biden and his gaffes. Personally, I think Bernie Sanders is the only one who has a chance to beat Trump. I heard Donnie Douche on MSNBC say he’d rather have Trump than a progressive. I also notice the polls adding Biden, who isn’t running, only to lower Sanders’ number. If the DNC (or others) do some of the shady shit from 2016, you can guarantee Trump will be re-elected. The elections never seem to end… I’m less interested in outcomes, and more interested in actual results, real change and reform. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2019, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-joe-bidens-campaign-over-before-it-starts/831783/46 "2019-03-31T16:01:24Z")
The practical political issue is that giving Biden a pass on this plays straight into Trump’s hands. Since the Mueller report came out he’s been screaming about liberal lies, and his base believes every word. If touchy Joe gets the nomination we’ll hear every day about how the liberals faked outrage about his pussy grabbing (which never happened and was another lie) and everything they say about him is also a lie. And his base will believe it, because the left has made it true. Obviously Trump will find a fault in every candidate or make one up if that works better. But handing him a hammer to beat us over the head with is even stupider a Democratic move than usual. Biden has a huge number of faults that would normally disqualify a candidate, and besides that he’s a 76-year-old white man at exactly the wrong time. Sorry, Joe, you gotta go. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2019, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-joe-bidens-campaign-over-before-it-starts/831783/47 "2019-03-31T16:08:52Z")
> [@Lamoral](#): > > … > I wonder what the Republicans are arguing about? The eternal Republican argument: Which is funnier, grabbing women by their pussies or shipping kids and their mothers to two different places forever? ---
**Author:** ![Lamoral](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lamoral/32/16078_2.png) [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2019, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-joe-bidens-campaign-over-before-it-starts/831783/48 "2019-03-31T16:10:02Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > If touchy Joe gets the nomination we’ll hear every day about how the liberals faked outrage about his pussy grabbing (which never happened and was another lie) and everything they say about him is also a lie. And his base will believe it, because the left has made it true. And all Joe needs to do is say, “Donald, you have conducted yourself with such unbelievable crudeness and vulgarity not only during your presidency and campaign, but over your entire career, that it doesn’t remotely compare. Do you know what ‘remotely’ means?” He should say that during a debate. I don’t know if Biden is gonna get the nomination or not. But if he does, he needs to not back down an inch. I’m sure Trump would have some words to say in response to that statement. And as soon as he does, all Biden needs to do is cut him off, as Trump always does to everyone else - and say…as loudly as he can: “Pussy. Porn stars. Affairs. That’s you, Donald.” The way people are discussing this upcoming election, it’s like they learned NOTHING from the last time and still think it’s 1992. Fuck that. The gloves are off. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2019, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-joe-bidens-campaign-over-before-it-starts/831783/49 "2019-03-31T16:12:03Z")
> [@racepug](#): > > I’ve had my eye on Cory Booker for some time. I’d vote for him - certainly before I’d EVER vote for the person who currently occupies the W.H.! I would vote for Booker over Trump, but as someone from NJ, I would hardly recommend him. So far no Democrat I have seen comes close to bad enough where I wouldn’t vote for them over Trump, so not a good measure. Never loved Biden, if he has the best chance to take back states like Florida, Penn & others in the rust belt, I would support him, if this issues makes him slide in Florida polls, just tell me who is next that can beat Trump in Florida and take a few back in the rust belt. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2019, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-joe-bidens-campaign-over-before-it-starts/831783/50 "2019-03-31T16:28:46Z")
> [@MortSahlFan](#): > > … Personally, I think Bernie Sanders is the only one … Really? Who knew? 🙂 > [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > The practical political issue is that giving Biden a pass on this plays straight into Trump’s hands. … And his base will believe it, … His base will believe anything and everything he says and are not the concern. He has that third of the vote no matter what and they will come out no matter what. There is lots between disqualification and getting a pass and much of that space will satisfy those whose minds are not made up no matter what. There are responses that demonstrate what he learns by listening. Will his being someone who touched lots (women, men, children) when politicking as his style, sometimes with cluelessness as to when it makes others uncomfortable, be disqualifying to Obama-Trump voters? To Romney-Clinton ones? Will Democratic women stay home rather than vote for him when the alternative is Trump? Will younger voters stay home because of this? Will Black voters? Trump’s base gives him a pass on everything no matter what, no more and no less whoever the D side runs. As far as how this impacts his chances to win the nom … I think the overlap between those who would not vote for another old white fairly moderate guy for the nom and those who find this disqualifying is great. I don’t think he loses that much support even if it lowers his favorables slightly. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2019, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-joe-bidens-campaign-over-before-it-starts/831783/51 "2019-03-31T17:13:37Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > You’re funny. I disagree, there is not and cannot be anything funny about unseating the worst human being ever to hold the presidency. Biden isn’t my first choice but I can’t get real excited about hair fluffing when toxic monstrosity rules the roost. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2019, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-joe-bidens-campaign-over-before-it-starts/831783/52 "2019-03-31T17:16:44Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > Will his being someone who touched lots (women, men, children) when politicking as his style, sometimes with cluelessness as to when it makes others uncomfortable, be disqualifying to Obama-Trump voters? To Romney-Clinton ones? Will Democratic women stay home rather than vote for him when the alternative is Trump? Will younger voters stay home because of this? Will Black voters? Black voters stayed home in 2016. If they has turned out for Clinton as they did for Obama, Trump would have lost the midwestern states and the presidency. > [@](#): > > I don’t think he loses that much support even if it lowers his favorables slightly. Wishful thinking, IMO. And this > [@Lamoral](#): > > And all Joe needs to do is say, “Donald, you have conducted yourself with such unbelievable crudeness and vulgarity not only during your presidency and campaign, but over your entire career, that it doesn’t remotely compare. Do you know what ‘remotely’ means?” > > He should say that during a debate. > > I don’t know if Biden is gonna get the nomination or not. But if he does, he needs to not back down an inch. > > I’m sure Trump would have some words to say in response to that statement. And as soon as he does, all Biden needs to do is cut him off, as Trump always does to everyone else - and say…as loudly as he can: “Pussy. Porn stars. Affairs. That’s you, Donald.” > > The way people are discussing this upcoming election, it’s like they learned NOTHING from the last time and still think it’s 1992. Fuck that. The gloves are off. is delusional thinking. Trump beat 16 Republicans doing this. Why would it work better this time? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2019, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-joe-bidens-campaign-over-before-it-starts/831783/53 "2019-03-31T17:20:03Z")
> [@Ulfreida](#): > > I disagree, there is not and cannot be anything funny about unseating the worst human being ever to hold the presidency. Biden isn’t my first choice but I can’t get real excited about hair fluffing when toxic monstrosity rules the roost. Look Trump is awful but he probably isn’t worse than Andrew Jackson, who of course Trump publicly admires. Though I desperately don’t want to see what he can do with an extra 4 years. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2019, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-joe-bidens-campaign-over-before-it-starts/831783/54 "2019-03-31T17:26:57Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > just tell me who is next that can beat Trump in Florida and take a few back in the rust belt. If you think both sides will be as motivated as they were in 2018, I’d say anyone besides Tulsi Gabbard. It’s going to be a referendum on Trump, just like 2018. We won 2018, and I don’t think we need Biden to win 2020. ETA: Consequently, I think we Dems should nominate the candidate we’d most like to be the next President. ---
**Author:** ![Lamoral](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lamoral/32/16078_2.png) [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2019, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-joe-bidens-campaign-over-before-it-starts/831783/55 "2019-03-31T17:28:52Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > And this > is delusional thinking. Trump beat 16 Republicans doing this. Why would it work better this time? Because nobody else pushed back the last time. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2019, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-joe-bidens-campaign-over-before-it-starts/831783/56 "2019-03-31T17:32:05Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > If you think both sides will be as motivated as they were in 2018, I’d say anyone besides Tulsi Gabbard. > > It’s going to be a referendum on Trump, just like 2018. We won 2018, and I don’t think we need Biden to win 2020. > > ETA: Consequently, I think we Dems should nominate the candidate we’d most like to be the next President. Careful, there is a lot of love for Warren by Dems that moderates and independents don’t share and she could lose. I do think and hope nearly everyone else has a good chance, but I want to see that increased to great chance to beat Trump. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2019, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-joe-bidens-campaign-over-before-it-starts/831783/57 "2019-03-31T17:37:28Z")
Why would a 2016 Trump voter not vote for him in 2020? What did he do or not do that would turn off some of his voters for 2020? I know what happened in 2018 but it’s much easier beating a congress member in the suburbs than beating Trump nationally. Remember all the seats Obama lost in 2010 (63 seats) and then he won in 2012. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2019, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-joe-bidens-campaign-over-before-it-starts/831783/58 "2019-03-31T17:55:17Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > Black voters stayed home in 2016. If they has turned out for Clinton as they did for Obama, Trump would have lost the midwestern states and the presidency. … Non sequitor. Blacks turned out for Clinton as well as they did for any other non-Obama nominee. And the question is specific: would being prone to overly touchy politicking negatively impact that group against Trump or against coming out? ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2019, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-joe-bidens-campaign-over-before-it-starts/831783/59 "2019-03-31T17:56:25Z")
> [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](#): > > We’ve had four years of coasting on Obama’s legacy, with incessant lies, corruption and incompetence. The wall is stupid, the deficit is a trillion and the GOP is literally coming for your health care. And a hundred other things. > > Trump sucks and can be beaten by lots of candidates IMHO. Exactly the thinking that has the dems throwing names around instead of getting together to set a platform, choose a candidate, and get organized for a battle. If we don’t get serious pretty damned soon we are looking at four more years of trump. Calling him names is not the answer any more than it was last time. Anyone who truly believes Warren or Biden or Sanders could win a national election against the incumbent is seriously kidding themselves. I don’t see any hope that the dems are going to wake up any time soon, either. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2019, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-joe-bidens-campaign-over-before-it-starts/831783/60 "2019-03-31T17:57:43Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > Why would a 2016 Trump voter not vote for him in 2020? What did he do or not do that would turn off some of his voters for 2020 … Some voted him as a vote for change and were willing to roll the dice. Now they’ve seen the roll and many still want change. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-joe-bidens-campaign-over-before-it-starts/831783.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-joe-bidens-campaign-over-before-it-starts/831783.md?page=4)