With only a few months to go before the US Presidential election, anxiety is bubbling up within the Democratic Party about their presumptive nominee, Joe Biden. For months, Biden has been the clear frontrunner for the Democratic nomination. Despite concerns over his age and some voter fatigue with establishment politicians, he was still seen as the best chance of defeating President Trump in 2020.
However, in recent weeks, there has been a growing unease about the Biden campaign among some Democratic voters and party leaders. Some worry that he is not doing enough to energize the Democratic base and bring new voters into the fold. Others believe his tendency to make gaffes, combined with news of a growing number of sexual harassment allegations against him, could hurt his chances come November.
For Biden’s part, he has been trying to reach out to key Democratic constituencies, such as African Americans and young adults. He has also announced a range of progressive policy plans, including on climate change and healthcare. But some critics fear that those plans are not being communicated effectively and lack the energy and excitement needed to win in November.
Meanwhile, President Trump has been doing everything he can to fuel Democratic anxiety. His reelection team is increasingly trying to brand Biden as a weak candidate who is too politically moderate and out-of-touch with the modern Democratic Party. Trump is also trying to boost Biden’s unpopularity by casting him as an agent of the far-left of the party, an accusation that Biden rejects.
With the election looming, anxiety is spreading throughout the Democratic Party. In order to be successful in November, Biden will need to be able to unify the Democrats and their voters, and to craft a message that speaks to both the core Democratic base and moderate swing voters. He will also need to combat President Trump’s assault on his character and leadership abilities. If the Biden campaign can manage to address these concerns and overcome the anxiety of Democratic voters, he stands a good chance of defeating the president.
