# President Joe Biden and the runup to the 2024 election **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [November 15, 2021, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-joe-biden-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-election/954384 "2021-11-15T14:54:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 62
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2024, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-joe-biden-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-election/954384/1232 "2024-04-17T12:03:34Z")
Some streaming service should offer a real-time fact checking version, where every time Trump lies, they use one of those face-swap apps to make him look like a clown. ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2024, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-joe-biden-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-election/954384/1233 "2024-04-17T12:11:47Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > The thing is, though, that the opinions of these groups about the debate don’t really matter. What matters is the people who are really “undecided”. I don’t understand how those people actually exist under the current circumstances, but they do exist. It’s how they respond to the debate, and the debate _about_ the debate, that really matters. > > The difference between Trump and Biden will be dramatic. If it sways enough swing voters, it will also be decisive. > > So any decisions that Biden makes should be in light of this. I’m sure there’s a few people that are legitimately undecided. But not enough to explain the types of polls where both Trump and Biden get numbers in the low 40s. I’d bet that a large majority of the “undecideds” fall into one of three categories. 1. Shy Trump voters who have already made up their minds but don’t want to admit it. 2. Shy Biden voters, such as former center right Republicans who don’t want to admit to planning to vote D. 3. People who aren’t planning to vote anyway but are embarrassed to say that they don’t care about voting, so instead they claim undecided, AKA the low information non-voter. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2024, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-joe-biden-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-election/954384/1234 "2024-04-17T12:14:13Z")
But that doesn’t make any sense. Why be “shy” in an anonymous poll? Who’s to know you’re secretly a Biden lover, or Trumpist? And if for some reason you do care, “None of your fucking business!” is still an acceptable response. ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2024, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-joe-biden-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-election/954384/1235 "2024-04-17T12:19:17Z")
For the first two groups, it’s that they’re conflicted internally. Thinking things like, “I’m not like those people that attacked the capitol even though I plan to vote for Trump” or “I’m not like those far left activists even though I plan to vote for Biden”. Voters like that drive up undecided numbers, especially this far out. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2024, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-joe-biden-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-election/954384/1236 "2024-04-17T13:51:08Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > What matters is the people who are really “undecided”. I don’t understand how those people actually exist under the current circumstances, but they do exist. It’s how they respond to the debate, and the debate _about_ the debate, that really matters. ISTM this election is more about who’s undecided about bothering to vote or not than undecided about who to vote for _if_ they bother. The challenge as to a debate (or the preceding rules-writing contest) is whether and how to influence the unsure-if-they’ll-vote crowd to do so, and do so net in your favor not the other guy’s. That’s a very different problem from highlighting the policy differences and mental acuity of the participants. And not one I’ve got any practical advice on. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2024, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-joe-biden-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-election/954384/1237 "2024-04-17T15:06:47Z")
> [@FlikTheBlue](#): > > For the first two groups, it’s that they’re conflicted internally. Exactly this. Some respondents aren’t lying to the pollster – they’re lying to themselves. Further: Some _other_ respondents respond with the knowledge that their individual poll answer “won’t matter”, so some wish-casting takes place. “_I wish I had a better Democratic choice than Biden … so I’ll say ‘undecided’ for now_”. Or “_Man, I can’t vote Democratic Party, but I also can’t vote Trump. The poll doesn’t really matter, so ‘undecided’ it is for now_”. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2024, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-joe-biden-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-election/954384/1238 "2024-04-17T20:15:04Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > Further: Some _other_ respondents respond with the knowledge that their individual poll answer “won’t matter”, so some wish-casting takes place. “_I wish I had a better Democratic choice than Biden … so I’ll say ‘undecided’ for now_”. Or “_Man, I can’t vote Democratic Party, but I also can’t vote Trump. The poll doesn’t really matter, so ‘undecided’ it is for now_”. Yep, that is happening a lot. They will never vote trump. But the risk is they might be persuaded by GOP and Kremlin propaganda to stay home or vote 3rd party. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2024, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-joe-biden-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-election/954384/1239 "2024-04-23T19:26:16Z")
Biden, taking Trump directly on the issue of the Trump Bible: > ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2024, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-joe-biden-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-election/954384/1240 "2024-04-24T00:25:16Z")
Note that Biden was in Tampa. Florida. The democrats think Florida is in play, due to abortion rights (which are on the state’s ballot, via a constitutional amendment). And while Biden chips away at the GOP hold on Florida, donald is busy…elsewhere, doing…other stuff. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2024, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-joe-biden-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-election/954384/1241 "2024-04-24T02:05:37Z")
> [@Moriarty](#): > > Note that Biden was in Tampa. Florida. Kamala Harris, meanwhile, is visiting my hometown in Wisconsin. She’ll talk about a woman’s right to choose at a Hmong cultural center. It’s great she supports abortion rights and cultural diversity, but in this case there’s a funny disconnect, because Hmong American families are known to be large. (I know it’s not really contradictory, but still, we found it amusing.) ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2024, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-joe-biden-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-election/954384/1242 "2024-04-24T02:33:29Z")
Umm, you mean HAD visited – she was here Monday. IIRC she talked about nursing home regulations at the Hmong center, and she talked about reproductive rights at the La Crosse center. I had a OK view of the motorcade as she left the La Crosse Center (left out the back, drove on Front St then turned on Jay) There were sawhorses and police at the corner of Front and Jay from maybe 10AM until she left. There were two police boats on the main channel and a coast guard helicopter in the area. Brian ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2024, 10:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-joe-biden-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-election/954384/1243 "2024-04-24T10:01:25Z")
Thanks, neighbor! ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2024, 10:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-joe-biden-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-election/954384/1244 "2024-04-24T10:28:37Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > Hmong American families are known to be large So you’re saying they’re… … **Hmongous**? ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2024, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-joe-biden-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-election/954384/1245 "2024-04-24T10:44:28Z")
Hah!! ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2024, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-joe-biden-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-election/954384/1246 "2024-04-24T11:39:33Z")
> [@Moriarty](#): > > The democrats think Florida is in play, I don’t think so, much as I’d love it to be true. Florida is going to be the horror story that gets Dems off their seats in other, more viable states. _Look at what deSantis did. This is what happens when you let the GOP’s culture wars determine a state’s trajectory._ Florida isn’t in play, not nationally and not even at the state level, but it will be important and useful to keep it in the news all the way to November. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2024, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-joe-biden-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-election/954384/1247 "2024-04-24T11:47:30Z")
The idea that Florida is in play is because of Amendment 4, the abortion initiative on the November ballot. They think that’ll get a lot of people out to vote who don’t normally vote. Yeah, might happen. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2024, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-joe-biden-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-election/954384/1248 "2024-04-24T11:53:22Z")
I’d love to see it, but I’m not holding my breath. If we can serve as an object lesson elsewhere that’ll be a pretty good consolation prize. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2024, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-joe-biden-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-election/954384/1249 "2024-04-24T13:11:33Z")
Always great to try and expand the map, as long as sufficient effort is also spent in core swing states (PA, MI, WI, GA, AZ, NV). ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2024, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-joe-biden-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-election/954384/1250 "2024-04-24T13:25:13Z")
I’d add playing defense in Minnesota and going on offense in North Carolina. But not Florida. It’s too big a state. Same thing for Texas. It’s nice to fantasize, but it isn’t going to happen. When a percentage point in FL or TX is 10x the size of a percentage point in an actual swing state, a serious effort isn’t worth it. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2024, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-joe-biden-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-election/954384/1251 "2024-04-25T04:10:29Z")
If a couple extra visits by a sitting President can flip a House seat or two, that’s huge with the current margins. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-joe-biden-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-election/954384.md?page=61) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-joe-biden-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-election/954384.md?page=63)