Joe Biden’s Political Strategy Unveiled: A Critical Analysis

TFD – Delve into the strategic depths of Joe Biden’s political maneuvering as he faces mounting pressures and Democratic concerns. Discover how his approach in the upcoming State of the Union address reflects his quest for reelection.

Last month, a few Democratic governors broke through a group of their peers to express to President Joe Biden what they have been emphasizing behind closed doors: He needs to be fighting harder.

The Democrats told Biden that he needed to show more of the fire that was on display in a closed-door meeting with governors when Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte handed him a letter demanding more action on the southern border. Two of the governors standing there reported that Biden gave them a quick smile.

“State of the Union,” Biden remarked in jest.

During his primetime speech on Thursday, the president is likely to go far further than usual in criticizing companies for exploiting consumers and piling up profits. Expect to see that battling attitude in action. However, with a great deal of the negative sentiment surrounding the economy being driven by anger about price increases—in fact, the Cookie Monster X account posted about shrinkflation on Monday, which prompted a response from the White House—Biden is taking a step that he has long avoided in an attempt to deflect the rage that has been hurting him in the polls.

Prominent Democrats argue that it’s long overdue.

Twenty-six prominent Democratic officials and operatives told CNN that they were sick of hearing rumors that the president called Vladimir Putin “a crazy SOB” and that MAGA Republicans were worse than segregationists, or that he was cursing Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu behind closed doors in the Oval Office. As assurances that the president’s private manner differs from the public’s view of the 81-year-old commander in chief, they want to see that passion and fire out in the open.

Tim Walz, the governor of Minnesota who has enthusiastically thrown himself into being one of the president’s most vocal supporters, stated, “A lot of times you need to hear it from the candidate.” “Joe Biden is a kind person. People understand that. One of the things people wonder, ‘Is he tough enough to take these things on?’”

Furthermore, it would counteract worries that Biden is too old, according to Walz.

“I believe it is beneficial. Although he will always be his age, Walz added, “I think it helps to make the case on this.” “Give Trump a little shove.” He merited it.

Speaking to CNN, a number of Democratic officials expressed hesitation about how much to say because they are worried that going public will highlight even more of what Biden isn’t doing.

But privately, many talk longingly about wanting to see more passion and pride – political theatrics, sure, but ones that they argue are crucial – at a moment when exhaustion with the process is pervasive and the Democratic worries over a second Trump administration are high. They contend that Biden’s defense of democracy shouldn’t end with a few sneaky jabs on Seth Meyers’ late-night program. They argue he shouldn’t give a forceful speech marking the anniversary of the January 6, 2021, insurrection and assume that will fill out his energetic quota for over two months.

“He is a fighter, and that is what people want to witness. Longtime friend of Biden’s, Governor Phil Murphy of New Jersey, stated, “I’d be for anything that presents the contrast, which I think that would help do.”

Making arrangements for traps

Biden and his staff are acutely aware of the significance of Thursday’s address, given that it will likely draw the largest national audience outside of the summer convention and that polls currently indicate that the majority of Democrats do not believe Biden should be seeking reelection. The West Wing has been working on the drafting till late into the evening, and they are aware that every word, stammer, and shuffling motion would be scrutinized as thoroughly as any policy recommendations.

Leading Biden aides maintain that their favorite part of the speech from the previous year—when he persuaded Republicans to reject Social Security and Medicare cuts and punctuated the speech with “I enjoy conversion”—was not at all scripted.

This time, Biden’s advisers admit that political pressure has forced them to brainstorm alternatives rather than letting Biden’s future depend on chance and hoping for another flawless, spontaneous reaction.

Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawaii said that after the State of the Union, Biden “is going to have to be gloves off,” even though he isn’t sure it’s the best place for him to make his strongest statement.

Biden aides like criticizing and shaming journalists for reporting they believe to be biased or unjust. Schatz stated that in order to get bad news about Trump reported, the president and his advisors must get over that and get Biden to take the swings.

“There isn’t enough time to revise the journalism code of conduct. Schatz remarked, “We just have to make due with what we have. “He must personally present that argument and not presume that people will naturally pick it up through osmosis or surrogacy.”

Biden’s advisors admit that if he engaged in more combat, he would appear more formidable.

Biden campaign aides have been discussing the necessity for him to step up and the clear advantages they see in him doing so for months. One top Biden campaign official summed up the idea to CNN back in January by saying, “People look strong when they’re picking fights,” and they realize the president needs to look stronger than he does.

They’ve discovered that this is easier said than done—and not just because Biden is attempting to keep a few unfinished bills from passing Congress, like averting a government shutdown and increasing aid to Israel and Ukraine.

Gov. John Carney, who has known Joe Biden for decades and credits their shared Delaware ancestry, said of Biden, “The real Joe Biden is: ‘We’re red states, we’re blue states, but we’re the United States of America.” However, he is also abrasive.

Even though Biden has enjoyed teasing Trump and knowing that he will undoubtedly receive a backlash, he prefers to project a composed image in an effort to bring more decorum to the political process. An example of this is the positive statement he pushed for to be released last week following Sen. Mitch McConnell’s announcement that the Kentucky Republican would be resigning as minority leader. By endorsing McConnell in any remark and omitting to include matters like his part in overturning Roe v. Wade by making sure that conservatives Antonin Scalia and Ruth Bader Ginsburg received their Supreme Court seats, Biden did in fact enrage many core Democrats.

“With a statement like that, you have to ask if Joe Biden understands it,” a furious Democratic insider expressed to CNN.

The majority of the most vehement remarks to emerge from Biden’s campaign thus far have been mostly authored by others or credited to staff members. Realistic time management, according to Aides, is a fundamental concern. The president is too busy overseeing the nation to be rushing to microphones all the time to criticize Trump.

“By opposing the toughest bipartisan border security legislation in modern history, President Biden is on offense, demonstrating whose side he’s on and calling Republican officials out for choosing rich special interests over middle class families, choosing extreme attacks on basic reproductive health care over Americans’ freedoms, and choosing fentanyl traffickers over the Border Patrol,” stated White House spokesman Andrew Bates.

A statement from Lauren Hitt, the spokeswoman for Joe Biden’s campaign, reiterated the previous remarks and said, “The president and vice president will absolutely continue holding Donald Trump accountable and communicating directly to voters how much is at stake in this election.”

strategically avoiding some battles

But Biden is completely at a loss for words on a number of issues that could sway undecided voters.

One of the most significant political liabilities of the former president is the array of charges and court cases against him; Nikki Haley frequently uses this as an attack vector. However, Biden is determined to emphasize the Justice Department’s and the courts’ independence.

White House officials are cautious because they know that the Israeli government and Arab leaders in the region are closely monitoring every word the president says. However, he still has more to say about Netanyahu and the Gaza crisis that American voters might find interesting.

Biden doesn’t only like to hide these and other ideas from the public when he attends fundraisers; it’s more than just a social comfort. Sometimes he makes a calculated tactical choice to try to maintain a modicum of realistic distance while getting his remarks widely reported in the media.

Going harder doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best course of action for winning over moderates and Republicans who are turned off by Trump, whom Biden hopes to be a palatable enough alternative for. This is especially true during a campaign that can already feel like a slog with eight months left. It just happens to light up Democrats who are already fixated on the race and perform well on the internet.

The campaign has been using the following format for videos on its new TikTok account and other social media accounts as of right now: Give Biden an iPad, then videotape him seeing and responding to a video of the most recent remark made by Trump that the campaign want to draw attention to. It’s what one campaign assistant referred to as “the true digital version of ‘Let Biden be Biden.'” While Biden’s reactions to the films, which are primarily ones of annoyance, are often spontaneous, his summaries of them are carefully considered and staged.

Assistants believe they have plenty of time to intensify their criticism of Biden for appearing to be a sleepwalking old man, despite the numerous complaints to the contrary.

That is limited in scope.

“He must reach his peak at the appropriate moment and present his case when the greatest number of voters are paying attention, as you cannot be eight months in a row at an 11 out of 10 level of alarm.” stated Schatz. However, politicians are frequently cautioned against being overly harsh because doing so might hurt people and backfire. In this instance, the public’s perception of Joe Biden as a person is clear. He therefore has plenty of room to act as tough as needed.