Democrats are “not enthusiastic” about the possibility of President Biden’s re-election, a party strategist has said, as polls show down-ballot candidates running ahead of the commander in chief in key states.
“Democrats are enthusiastic about trying to win the Senate and trying to win the House,” Pennsylvania-based political tactician Neil Oxman told Politico in a report published Thursday.
By contrast, he added, party faithful are “not enthusiastic about Biden’s re-election. Period.”
Hours later, Emerson College released a poll of battleground states showing most Democratic Senate contenders running between two and seven percentage points ahead of Biden.
The 81-year-old president has no one to blame but himself, with a procession of Democrats pointing out the incumbent’s various vulnerabilities — starting with his age, inconsistent message and lack of support from younger voters, a demographic Democrats once had a lock on.
Democrats are “not enthusiastic” about the possibility of President Biden’s White House reelection, a political strategist argued. Getty Images
Biden appeared to freeze during a performance marking Juneteenth at the White House last week. AP
Biden appeared on stage with Jimmy Kimmel and former President Obama during a campaign fundraiser last week in LA. AFP via Getty Images
Video from the fundraiser appeared to show Obama gently steering Biden off stage. X/CollinRugg
Biden appeared to surprise Pope Francis last week with a very close greeting. AFP via Getty Images“There’s a disconnect between the successes we’re having locally and in specials, and the environments we’re experiencing at and near the top of the ticket,” former Queens and Long Island Democratic Rep. Steve Israel told the outlet.
“It is the fundamental challenge confronting Democrats right now: Why are we doing as well as we’re doing on the ground, in local and state elections, but we still have this very tight polling at the presidential?”
“People on the right don’t admire [presumptive Republican nominee Donald] Trump at all,” theorized Ohio Democratic congressional candidate Michael Kripchak. “They admire the strength that he puts out there. These people think that he’s fighting for them. Why? Because he’s an excellent salesman.
“Now imagine if you have someone like Biden actually doing things to help the people, and then push that strong image out there. Right? That’s the combination we need.”
Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.), who unsuccessfully challenged Biden for the 2024 Democratic nomination, told Politico that the president’s age is an inescapable issue, so he needs to make the best of it.
“It’s time to lean into that and to be self-deprecating,” Phillips said, “and to start focusing on what people really care a lot about, which is economic security and personal safety.”
The surveys from Emerson College and The Hill showed Trump, 78, edging out Biden in Arizona (47%-43%), Georgia (45%-41%), Michigan (46%-45%), Nevada (46%-43%), Pennsylvania (47%-45%), and Wisconsin (47%-44%).
Biden allies have insisted there is no reason to panic, with retiring Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) saying that the president “understands” her home state.
“We don’t have an economy unless we make things and grow things,” she told Politico. “Democrats are now traveling the state talking about this record of accomplishments. This is no different from when I ran with then-President Obama in 2012.”
Meanwhile, a Fox News survey released Wednesday showed Biden leading Trump nationwide by a razor-thin 50% to 48% margin ahead of next week’s first debate between the rivals.
