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On Politics With Lisa Lerer: Voters Like Joe Biden. But Are They in Love? Voters Like Joe Biden. But Are They in Love?
(32 minutes later)
Hi. Welcome to On Politics, your guide to the day in national politics. I’m Lisa Lerer, your host.Hi. Welcome to On Politics, your guide to the day in national politics. I’m Lisa Lerer, your host.
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When I joined the press horde covering Joe Biden’s first campaign visit to Iowa this week, I was struck by how often I heard the same refrain. Here’s how Greg Renaud, a retired teacher from Pleasant Hill, put it:When I joined the press horde covering Joe Biden’s first campaign visit to Iowa this week, I was struck by how often I heard the same refrain. Here’s how Greg Renaud, a retired teacher from Pleasant Hill, put it:
“I like Joe. We need someone in the first place who’s electable in 2020. Look, my own personal beliefs are probably a little to the left of where he is, but independents are going to be crucial in 2020.”“I like Joe. We need someone in the first place who’s electable in 2020. Look, my own personal beliefs are probably a little to the left of where he is, but independents are going to be crucial in 2020.”
In my conversations with voters — even those who said they felt strong affection for Mr. Biden — it was pretty clear that practicality, not passion, was the driving force in their support for the former vice president. It was a sentiment that seemed to transcend age, gender and ideological orientation.In my conversations with voters — even those who said they felt strong affection for Mr. Biden — it was pretty clear that practicality, not passion, was the driving force in their support for the former vice president. It was a sentiment that seemed to transcend age, gender and ideological orientation.
Now, I’m generally a cynic. But when it comes to presidential politics, I believe in love. No one enjoys suffering through a bad date — particularly when it’s a date that could keep going for four long years.Now, I’m generally a cynic. But when it comes to presidential politics, I believe in love. No one enjoys suffering through a bad date — particularly when it’s a date that could keep going for four long years.
That means pragmatic support is generally not the stuff of winning presidential bids. (See: Romney, Mitt; Clinton, Hillary; Kerry, John.)That means pragmatic support is generally not the stuff of winning presidential bids. (See: Romney, Mitt; Clinton, Hillary; Kerry, John.)
Of course, given how badly Democrats want President Trump out of office, that instinct to follow their hearts could certainly play out differently this cycle. But with 21 candidates running (oh hey, Senator Michael Bennet!), voters certainly have plenty of time to play the field. And those candidates have time to make their case about why they are best positioned to defeat Mr. Trump.Of course, given how badly Democrats want President Trump out of office, that instinct to follow their hearts could certainly play out differently this cycle. But with 21 candidates running (oh hey, Senator Michael Bennet!), voters certainly have plenty of time to play the field. And those candidates have time to make their case about why they are best positioned to defeat Mr. Trump.
Mr. Biden is pushing his own electability hard, arguing in his early appearances that he can win back the working-class white voters who hurt Mrs. Clinton in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan. He implied that a tweetstorm launched by Mr. Trump Wednesday, after a firefighters’ union endorsed Mr. Biden, was a sign that the White House is afraid of his candidacy.Mr. Biden is pushing his own electability hard, arguing in his early appearances that he can win back the working-class white voters who hurt Mrs. Clinton in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan. He implied that a tweetstorm launched by Mr. Trump Wednesday, after a firefighters’ union endorsed Mr. Biden, was a sign that the White House is afraid of his candidacy.
On the stump, though, he doesn’t woo voters with sweeping promises or big plans for the future. I found his answer to climate protesters at an event in Des Moines on Wednesday quite telling.On the stump, though, he doesn’t woo voters with sweeping promises or big plans for the future. I found his answer to climate protesters at an event in Des Moines on Wednesday quite telling.
“I got there before any of the other candidates did,” he told a group of demonstrators wearing penguin masks, saying he authored a bill to address climate change in the mid-1980s.“I got there before any of the other candidates did,” he told a group of demonstrators wearing penguin masks, saying he authored a bill to address climate change in the mid-1980s.
Two days earlier, Beto O’Rourke had released a $5 trillion proposal to combat climate change. At least a dozen candidates say they are willing to consider a carbon tax. Senator Elizabeth Warren would enact a “total moratorium” on new federal fossil fuel leases. Gov. Jay Inslee of Washington is basing his entire campaign on the issueTwo days earlier, Beto O’Rourke had released a $5 trillion proposal to combat climate change. At least a dozen candidates say they are willing to consider a carbon tax. Senator Elizabeth Warren would enact a “total moratorium” on new federal fossil fuel leases. Gov. Jay Inslee of Washington is basing his entire campaign on the issue
But when Mr. Biden delved into specifics, he brought up the 2009 stimulus bill, meandering through a number of ideas to expand renewable fuels, promote wind energy and put electric charging stations on highways.But when Mr. Biden delved into specifics, he brought up the 2009 stimulus bill, meandering through a number of ideas to expand renewable fuels, promote wind energy and put electric charging stations on highways.
Like the climate plans he mentioned, Mr. Biden’s economic plans are largely the kinds of proposals Democrats have pushed for years — ending some corporate tax cuts, protecting entitlement programs, and the “Buffet Rule,” a tax on the wealthy first proposed by the Obama administration eight years ago. On health care, he would protect and expand the current law by giving people the option to buy into Medicare — a position similar to the one Mrs. Clinton took in 2016.Like the climate plans he mentioned, Mr. Biden’s economic plans are largely the kinds of proposals Democrats have pushed for years — ending some corporate tax cuts, protecting entitlement programs, and the “Buffet Rule,” a tax on the wealthy first proposed by the Obama administration eight years ago. On health care, he would protect and expand the current law by giving people the option to buy into Medicare — a position similar to the one Mrs. Clinton took in 2016.
As Mr. Biden made clear in his first campaign speech on Monday, this is a restoration, not a revolution.As Mr. Biden made clear in his first campaign speech on Monday, this is a restoration, not a revolution.
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We want to hear from our readers. Have a question? We’ll try to answer it. Have a comment? We’re all ears. Email us at onpolitics@nytimes.com.We want to hear from our readers. Have a question? We’ll try to answer it. Have a comment? We’re all ears. Email us at onpolitics@nytimes.com.
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After sweeping midterm victories brought them control of the House last year, it seemed like Democrats were gearing up to make a run at the much narrower, but not impossible, path to a Senate majority in 2020.After sweeping midterm victories brought them control of the House last year, it seemed like Democrats were gearing up to make a run at the much narrower, but not impossible, path to a Senate majority in 2020.
But those hopes took a bit of a blow this week after some of the most prominent potential candidates announced that they would not be running for Senate:But those hopes took a bit of a blow this week after some of the most prominent potential candidates announced that they would not be running for Senate:
• In Georgia, Stacey Abrams was the party’s foremost hope to win in a state that is growing more diverse. But she said on Tuesday that she would not be seeking the seat — people who’ve spoken with her say she’s considering another run for governor in 2022.• In Georgia, Stacey Abrams was the party’s foremost hope to win in a state that is growing more diverse. But she said on Tuesday that she would not be seeking the seat — people who’ve spoken with her say she’s considering another run for governor in 2022.
• In Texas, Representative Joaquin Castro was a popular pick to challenge Senator John Cornyn. But Mr. Castro, whose brother Julián is running for president, said on Wednesday that he was sitting the race out.• In Texas, Representative Joaquin Castro was a popular pick to challenge Senator John Cornyn. But Mr. Castro, whose brother Julián is running for president, said on Wednesday that he was sitting the race out.
• In Iowa, the freshman congresswoman Cindy Axne said Tuesday that she would not run against Senator Joni Ernst, instead seeking another term in the House.• In Iowa, the freshman congresswoman Cindy Axne said Tuesday that she would not run against Senator Joni Ernst, instead seeking another term in the House.
The presidential race has also spoiled Senate Democrats’ early hopes in a number of states. Colorado, seen by many as a competitive race, lost its No. 1 candidate in former Gov. John Hickenlooper. In Texas, many had hoped that Beto O’Rourke, who narrowly lost his Senate race in 2018, would run for the state’s other seat in 2020. And a top choice for Montana’s Senate race, Gov. Steve Bullock, is expected to enter the presidential field soon.The presidential race has also spoiled Senate Democrats’ early hopes in a number of states. Colorado, seen by many as a competitive race, lost its No. 1 candidate in former Gov. John Hickenlooper. In Texas, many had hoped that Beto O’Rourke, who narrowly lost his Senate race in 2018, would run for the state’s other seat in 2020. And a top choice for Montana’s Senate race, Gov. Steve Bullock, is expected to enter the presidential field soon.
But the recruiting efforts of the Senate minority leader, Chuck Schumer, have not been totally in vain. In Arizona, the former astronaut Mark Kelly is running against Senator Martha McSally in what is expected to be a close race. And M.J. Hegar, a former House candidate whose campaign ad went viral in 2018, has announced she will run in Texas against Mr. Cornyn.But the recruiting efforts of the Senate minority leader, Chuck Schumer, have not been totally in vain. In Arizona, the former astronaut Mark Kelly is running against Senator Martha McSally in what is expected to be a close race. And M.J. Hegar, a former House candidate whose campaign ad went viral in 2018, has announced she will run in Texas against Mr. Cornyn.
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• Facebook has barred Alex Jones, the conspiracy theorist and founder of Infowars, from its service, along with a number of far-right personalities.• Facebook has barred Alex Jones, the conspiracy theorist and founder of Infowars, from its service, along with a number of far-right personalities.
• Baltimore’s mayor resigned on Thursday, amid a scandal around her selling $500,000 worth of children’s books that she wrote to a state hospital network while on its board.• Baltimore’s mayor resigned on Thursday, amid a scandal around her selling $500,000 worth of children’s books that she wrote to a state hospital network while on its board.
• A survey found that nearly half of college students are going hungry. Many say they routinely skip meals, and one student said she takes “poverty naps” to fight off pangs of hunger when she can’t afford groceries.• A survey found that nearly half of college students are going hungry. Many say they routinely skip meals, and one student said she takes “poverty naps” to fight off pangs of hunger when she can’t afford groceries.
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Important whale espionage update! The (alleged) spy is refusing to leave the waters of Norway. The Washington Post reports:Important whale espionage update! The (alleged) spy is refusing to leave the waters of Norway. The Washington Post reports:
Researchers say the harness [worn by the whale] could have carried weapons or cameras, triggering fresh speculation about a sea mammal special operations program … Although the Russian Defense Ministry has denied the existence of such a program, the same ministry published an ad in 2016 seeking three male and two female bottlenose dolphins.Researchers say the harness [worn by the whale] could have carried weapons or cameras, triggering fresh speculation about a sea mammal special operations program … Although the Russian Defense Ministry has denied the existence of such a program, the same ministry published an ad in 2016 seeking three male and two female bottlenose dolphins.
The beluga is even letting residents pat its nose. Classic honey pot behavior.The beluga is even letting residents pat its nose. Classic honey pot behavior.
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Thanks for reading. Politics is more than what goes on inside the White House. On Politics brings you the people, issues and ideas reshaping our world.Thanks for reading. Politics is more than what goes on inside the White House. On Politics brings you the people, issues and ideas reshaping our world.
Is there anything you think we’re missing? Anything you want to see more of? We’d love to hear from you. Email us at onpolitics@nytimes.com.Is there anything you think we’re missing? Anything you want to see more of? We’d love to hear from you. Email us at onpolitics@nytimes.com.