Whatever crisis pops up tomorrow that no one has any idea about on the street? Being President is one of if not the hardest job in the world, and he’s not a young man. Calls are fine, but I’d rather have him in the White House getting stuff done rather than holding a rally in, say, Scranton.
I watched his interview yesterday on CBS Sunday Morning. His frailty, I believe, is growing worse by the day. Frankly, I’m not sure what his presence would add to what’s right now a very enthusiastic campaign. I think the Dems would be better served to let him sit this one out, or maybe ‘appear’ via a recorded video message.
Well, if a crisis pops up, how quickly does he have to do exactly what - that he can’t do via the communications available on AF1 as he jets back to the WH? Or should he move a cot into the oval office, just to be ready?
Biden, who can’t finish sentences, finished a bike ride in DE a few days ago. It was on Threads and Tiktok.
Not sure where to ask this but …
I’ve been invited via LinkedIn to join “a Discord for writers, designers, marketers and others with key skills who want to help save democracy and elect Kamala Harris.”
Is this legit? Does anyone have experience with something like this? It completely matches my skillset.
I’d share a link but I’m wary of clicking it.
My point is that he only has so much time and energy, and it should be better spent creating good headlines that Kamala can use on her campaign rather than flying all over the country. If there’s evidence that having Biden show up helps her significantly, then I’ll happily say I’m wrong.
Absolutely he should save his energy for Presidenting. But that doesn’t mean that he should do no campaigning at all for Harris. If he literally did none at all, that would make it look like he has no confidence in her. But there’s a vast excluded middle, there. He could do a small handful of campaign events, to show his confidence, while still doing far fewer than he would if he himself were the candidate.
Yeah. Apologies if I did not make clear that that is what I was suggesting. Figured a limited number of high value appearances would be worthwhile, but definitely not an extended whistle-stop. Even for an octogenarian, I question how much wear and tear it would be to travel via helicopter to an airport, after which you can nap on AF1, jet to PA (or wherever reasonably close) take a limo to an event. Take a nap. Limo/jet to another event, then nap on your way back to AF1 for another nap before you get home to the WH in time for your pre-dinner nap.
538’s average is now +1 in PA. +2 in WI, and +3 in MI
Their forecast model still isn’t up yet.
Exactement, as the French would say.
He did fine with the announcement of the prisoner exchange, including the appearance of an ad lib line response regarding Trump claiming he could have gotten them without anything given (of course at the ready in advance).
He would do fine for a few rallies preaching to his fans. Could he handle Gaza hecklers? That is more my concern.
I hope an Israel Gaza ceasefire doesn’t wait for October. For many reasons. But even politically - get the issue off the table as much as possible as early as possible.
These threads blur together but I think comments regarding media annoyance at no press conferences belong here?
Stage one is to get out and define the Harris Walz team in their own messaging terms. Followed by the convention.
Press conferences are more risky. They are of great value to voters though for the very reason they are risky: the candidate is asked specific questions that they do not control and can be seen to either not answer (Trump approach) or get pinned down with specifics that will never make everyone happy.
She will need to prep for that. Conveniently mostly the same prep that will be needed for the first debate. So press conferences should start a week after the convention and be a form of debate warm up.
Do you trust the entity inviting you?
Discord is a standard communication platform. It supports both chat and audio/video. It was originally designed for gamers, and like many other online platforms, it took off during the pandemic. I am a member of about two dozen discord servers, some i visit regularly, and some i barely touch.
Anyway, “discord” is legit. Whether the link you got is actually a discord invitation is hard to tell, but if it is, joining a discord server is pretty harmless. (worst case, you can leave. Second worst, you can mute notifications.) If it’s actually a discord server for people working to elect Harris, it might be fun and energizing to join, even if you don’t accomplish anything.
I swear to god if I hear the word ‘joy’ one more time from the Harris campaign I’m gonna puke.
I mean good job on getting the appearance of enthusiasm out in the zeitgeist, but eventually there needs to be some substance.
…and I say this as a Kamala supporter.
Agreed. Use his campaign stops where they will do the most good.
Harris is on the TIME cover, and there’s some interesting info in the article about how she tied up the nomination so quickly; not a Dem-media conspiracy, but old-fashioned retail politics:
I’m hearing substance. Maybe light on specifics, but that’s par for the course of a campaign. It’s certainly more than just “joy.”
And let us not forget those of us at home that are saying “Relief” as things were looking bleak before the candidate switch.
Vice President Harris likes anchovies? That’s it, I’m donating some more $$$. She’s the real deal!
It is really a goal for a campaign! The more everyone can project their specifics on to you the better. Every specific is something that someone will find problems with, that makes some number of people unhappy. Choose your specifics carefully. Very carefully.
For Obama it was “hope” and “change”. He was actually pretty much solid centrist but he had other specifics projected onto him. She is “joy” and “not going back.” The more you can get away with “details to follow” the better.
“You campaign in poetry. You govern in prose.” --Mario Cuomo