Change in Tactics
As President Joe Biden began his re-election effort, his team suggested he focus on his accomplishments while in office. That’s typically good strategy to give an incumbent; most elections are referendums on the person currently holding the job, so in theory, you want to make sure voters know what a good deal they have so they won’t dream of changing it.
That’s how we got the phrase “Bidenomics” to describe the current economy. But with a majority of Americans believing the economy is in the tank, that’s not something you want your name attached to…“Bidenomics” only reminded people that inflation is about twice what it was when Biden took over…after reaching a high of six times what it was on January 20, 2021.
Now that positive messaging about the President’s accomplishments isn’t working, the campaign and candidate have quickly pivoted to the old “vote for me, the other guy is worse” strategy. But given that “the other guy” in this scenario is Donald Trump, and given the raw hatred Biden and many of his base have for the former president, that strategy is on steroids.
It’s not just “vote for me, I’m better than him”…it’s “vote for me, the other guy will single-handedly destroy democracy”—which is a pretty tough sell no matter who the other guy is. It’s especially tough to point fingers at “the other guy” when you’re the one known for denying Secret Service protection to one rival, working overtime to toss another rival in prison, and throwing the historically set primary and caucus schedule into the wind to suit your own political needs. Given all that, who’s the power-hungry person who will destroy democracy if elected?
Before anyone on either side gets too excited about this…we in Iowa pay attention because of the caucuses. Come January 16, no one will care about Iowa, probably even for the general election. For the rest of the country, the 2024 election is light years away and they’re really not paying attention.
Which is why the dramatic shift in messaging by Team Biden is curious. Are they simply trying various strategies, weighing which will stick? Or are they afraid that the balance is tipping against them so quickly, they have to take dramatic action? Again, lots of folks on the left would like to see another candidate get the nomination, so in one respect Biden has to deflect against Republicans as well as insurgents within his own party.
And we’re still five days away from the actual year of the election. Buckle up.
