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| The Coronavirus. The Stock Market. Now Biden’s Comeback Adds to Trump’s Bad Week. | The Coronavirus. The Stock Market. Now Biden’s Comeback Adds to Trump’s Bad Week. |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| On Monday, President Trump was already having a bad week. | On Monday, President Trump was already having a bad week. |
| The coronavirus was spreading, the stock market was plummeting and his administration was getting blamed for an inadequate response to a health crisis. | The coronavirus was spreading, the stock market was plummeting and his administration was getting blamed for an inadequate response to a health crisis. |
| Then came Tuesday. Joseph R. Biden Jr., whom Mr. Trump was so eager to paint as corrupt that his attempts to do so led to his impeachment, pulled off one of the most remarkable political comebacks in recent history, winning nine states and joining Senator Bernie Sanders as a front-runner in the Democratic presidential race. | Then came Tuesday. Joseph R. Biden Jr., whom Mr. Trump was so eager to paint as corrupt that his attempts to do so led to his impeachment, pulled off one of the most remarkable political comebacks in recent history, winning nine states and joining Senator Bernie Sanders as a front-runner in the Democratic presidential race. |
| U.S. stocks did make a comeback on Wednesday, closing nearly 1,200 points up, which counted as good news for a president betting the farm on a healthy economy. The bad news was the reason many analysts cited for the gains was Mr. Biden’s Super Tuesday victories. | U.S. stocks did make a comeback on Wednesday, closing nearly 1,200 points up, which counted as good news for a president betting the farm on a healthy economy. The bad news was the reason many analysts cited for the gains was Mr. Biden’s Super Tuesday victories. |
| For Mr. Trump, whose belief in his own ability to shape external events is a source of comfort, it has been a week of confronting the fact that almost nothing is in his control right now. | For Mr. Trump, whose belief in his own ability to shape external events is a source of comfort, it has been a week of confronting the fact that almost nothing is in his control right now. |
| He has dealt with the coronavirus, the first external crisis of his administration, by repeating a string of falsehoods rather than delivering reassurance. He has claimed, falsely, that a vaccine would be ready within months when in reality, it won’t be ready for more than a year. And his insistence that his administration deserves an “A+++” for its response has done little to calm the rattled markets or an anxious electorate. | He has dealt with the coronavirus, the first external crisis of his administration, by repeating a string of falsehoods rather than delivering reassurance. He has claimed, falsely, that a vaccine would be ready within months when in reality, it won’t be ready for more than a year. And his insistence that his administration deserves an “A+++” for its response has done little to calm the rattled markets or an anxious electorate. |
| There has long been a disconnect between the way Mr. Trump sees politics and the way his more seasoned advisers do. In recent weeks, Mr. Trump has been focused on Mr. Sanders and his longtime rival Michael R. Bloomberg. But privately, several advisers said on Wednesday that they were not surprised that Democrats rallied around Mr. Biden, even if the president was. | There has long been a disconnect between the way Mr. Trump sees politics and the way his more seasoned advisers do. In recent weeks, Mr. Trump has been focused on Mr. Sanders and his longtime rival Michael R. Bloomberg. But privately, several advisers said on Wednesday that they were not surprised that Democrats rallied around Mr. Biden, even if the president was. |
| And they anticipated an ugly slog of a campaign going forward, with the brutal 2016 general election race against Hillary Clinton serving as a reminder of how Mr. Trump will try to tarnish his rivals, even as voters on Tuesday appeared to favor a candidate who projected calm stability over upheaval and uncertainty. | And they anticipated an ugly slog of a campaign going forward, with the brutal 2016 general election race against Hillary Clinton serving as a reminder of how Mr. Trump will try to tarnish his rivals, even as voters on Tuesday appeared to favor a candidate who projected calm stability over upheaval and uncertainty. |
| Trump campaign officials said on Wednesday that they viewed Mr. Biden as “Hillary Clinton Lite,” a candidate who they will argue generated little enthusiasm of his own while coasting off the opposition to the president and Mr. Sanders among Democrats. They said they planned to undercut his support from black voters by highlighting Mr. Biden’s vote for the now-controversial 1994 crime bill, while talking up Mr. Trump’s work on criminal justice reform. | Trump campaign officials said on Wednesday that they viewed Mr. Biden as “Hillary Clinton Lite,” a candidate who they will argue generated little enthusiasm of his own while coasting off the opposition to the president and Mr. Sanders among Democrats. They said they planned to undercut his support from black voters by highlighting Mr. Biden’s vote for the now-controversial 1994 crime bill, while talking up Mr. Trump’s work on criminal justice reform. |
| And they said they would seek to elevate his backing of trade policies like the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a deal that originated under President Barack Obama. | And they said they would seek to elevate his backing of trade policies like the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a deal that originated under President Barack Obama. |
| But they face a daunting challenge. Mr. Obama remains deeply popular with Democratic voters, and highlighting Mr. Biden’s work with him could simply energize his supporters to turn out for him in the fall if he is the nominee. And unlike Mrs. Clinton, who was viewed negatively by a large swath of voters over decades, Mr. Biden may have a stronger bond with some voters in his party. | But they face a daunting challenge. Mr. Obama remains deeply popular with Democratic voters, and highlighting Mr. Biden’s work with him could simply energize his supporters to turn out for him in the fall if he is the nominee. And unlike Mrs. Clinton, who was viewed negatively by a large swath of voters over decades, Mr. Biden may have a stronger bond with some voters in his party. |
| Mr. Trump’s frustration over the election results was evident in one of his early-morning Twitter posts on Wednesday — a screed against Jeff Sessions, the former attorney general who was forced into a runoff for his old Senate seat in Alabama, and whom Mr. Trump still blames for the two-year inquiry into a possible conspiracy between his 2016 campaign and Russian officials. | Mr. Trump’s frustration over the election results was evident in one of his early-morning Twitter posts on Wednesday — a screed against Jeff Sessions, the former attorney general who was forced into a runoff for his old Senate seat in Alabama, and whom Mr. Trump still blames for the two-year inquiry into a possible conspiracy between his 2016 campaign and Russian officials. |
| “This is what happens to someone who loyally gets appointed Attorney General of the United States & then doesn’t have the wisdom or courage to stare down & end the phony Russia Witch Hunt. Recuses himself on FIRST DAY in office, and the Mueller Scam begins!” Mr. Trump tweeted, after Mr. Sessions fell short of securing a majority in the Republican primary. | “This is what happens to someone who loyally gets appointed Attorney General of the United States & then doesn’t have the wisdom or courage to stare down & end the phony Russia Witch Hunt. Recuses himself on FIRST DAY in office, and the Mueller Scam begins!” Mr. Trump tweeted, after Mr. Sessions fell short of securing a majority in the Republican primary. |
| In a moment of uncertainty, Mr. Trump appeared to be grasping at the equivalent of comfort food: attacking Mr. Sessions. It was, people close to the president said, his reward for staying quiet during Mr. Sessions’s primary race, and also a way for the president to highlight a race in which his sustained attacks on Mr. Sessions before the campaign ultimately affected his ability to cleanly win. | |
| It was also clear that Mr. Trump’s attempt to dictate the contours of the Democratic presidential contest has had little comparable effect. | It was also clear that Mr. Trump’s attempt to dictate the contours of the Democratic presidential contest has had little comparable effect. |
| For months, Mr. Trump has told aides he believes he can shape the Democratic race to his own advantage by focusing on specific candidates. And he has been more overt than any incumbent in trying to influence the nominating contest of another party, training his Twitter feed on his potential rivals and trying to deepen authentic divisions in the Democratic Party by stoking fears that the establishment was trying to rob Mr. Sanders of the nomination. | For months, Mr. Trump has told aides he believes he can shape the Democratic race to his own advantage by focusing on specific candidates. And he has been more overt than any incumbent in trying to influence the nominating contest of another party, training his Twitter feed on his potential rivals and trying to deepen authentic divisions in the Democratic Party by stoking fears that the establishment was trying to rob Mr. Sanders of the nomination. |
| In January, he floated the idea that the Senate impeachment trial was intended to keep Mr. Sanders grounded in Washington instead of campaigning in Iowa before the caucuses there. | In January, he floated the idea that the Senate impeachment trial was intended to keep Mr. Sanders grounded in Washington instead of campaigning in Iowa before the caucuses there. |
| “They are rigging the election again against Bernie Sanders, just like last time, only even more obviously,” Mr. Trump tweeted. That month, Trump aides also began to see Mr. Sanders as their ideal Democratic opponent in November and sought to elevate his profile. | “They are rigging the election again against Bernie Sanders, just like last time, only even more obviously,” Mr. Trump tweeted. That month, Trump aides also began to see Mr. Sanders as their ideal Democratic opponent in November and sought to elevate his profile. |
| The president began singling out Mr. Sanders at his “Keep America Great” rallies as well as on Twitter. “Bernie is going up,” Mr. Trump said in January at a rally in Toledo, Ohio. “He’s surging. Crazy Bernie, he’s surging.” He has also highlighted the senator’s surges in the polls. | The president began singling out Mr. Sanders at his “Keep America Great” rallies as well as on Twitter. “Bernie is going up,” Mr. Trump said in January at a rally in Toledo, Ohio. “He’s surging. Crazy Bernie, he’s surging.” He has also highlighted the senator’s surges in the polls. |
| Another target was Mr. Bloomberg, who spent millions of dollars on ads attacking Mr. Trump and had no compunction contrasting his wealth with the president’s. | Another target was Mr. Bloomberg, who spent millions of dollars on ads attacking Mr. Trump and had no compunction contrasting his wealth with the president’s. |
| On Tuesday, as polls opened in 14 states, the president tried a directive to voters in Texas and Oklahoma. “Mini Mike Bloomberg will kill your drilling, fracking and pipelines,” he tweeted. “Petroleum based ‘anything’ is dead. Energy jobs gone. Don’t vote for Mini Mike!” | On Tuesday, as polls opened in 14 states, the president tried a directive to voters in Texas and Oklahoma. “Mini Mike Bloomberg will kill your drilling, fracking and pipelines,” he tweeted. “Petroleum based ‘anything’ is dead. Energy jobs gone. Don’t vote for Mini Mike!” |
| Mr. Bloomberg’s withdrawal from the race on Wednesday may provide Mr. Trump with a small measure of comfort. But it also presents a looming challenge for his campaign, as Mr. Bloomberg has promised to spend $1 billion to help the Democratic nominee and immediately threw his support to Mr. Biden. | |
| Also a challenge is the surprise surge of a candidate with a genuine connection with African-American voters, the essential element to Mr. Biden’s success on Super Tuesday. | Also a challenge is the surprise surge of a candidate with a genuine connection with African-American voters, the essential element to Mr. Biden’s success on Super Tuesday. |
| The Trump campaign has recently put money and time into trying to expand the president’s popularity among black voters, employing tactics like opening storefronts in black neighborhoods and devoting a Super Bowl ad to overhauling the criminal justice system. Mr. Trump won only 8 percent of the black vote in 2016, but his campaign operatives thought that facing a candidate like Mr. Sanders, who had his own challenge winning over African-American voters, created an opportunity for Mr. Trump. | The Trump campaign has recently put money and time into trying to expand the president’s popularity among black voters, employing tactics like opening storefronts in black neighborhoods and devoting a Super Bowl ad to overhauling the criminal justice system. Mr. Trump won only 8 percent of the black vote in 2016, but his campaign operatives thought that facing a candidate like Mr. Sanders, who had his own challenge winning over African-American voters, created an opportunity for Mr. Trump. |
| But for months, Mr. Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, and his work for Burisma, a problem-plagued energy company in Ukraine, have been the main concern of the president and his advisers. That effort was central to the impeachment inquiry into whether Mr. Trump tried to pressure Ukrainians to investigate the Bidens in exchange for releasing military aid. | But for months, Mr. Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, and his work for Burisma, a problem-plagued energy company in Ukraine, have been the main concern of the president and his advisers. That effort was central to the impeachment inquiry into whether Mr. Trump tried to pressure Ukrainians to investigate the Bidens in exchange for releasing military aid. |
| The damage to the president was obvious, but the former vice president’s candidacy also suffered. His poll standing fell as he struggled to answer questions from reporters and voters about his son. | |
| But the revival of Mr. Biden illustrates the limits of Mr. Trump’s influence. | But the revival of Mr. Biden illustrates the limits of Mr. Trump’s influence. |
| “I think Democratic primary voters are numbing to Trump’s buffoonery — black voters in particular,” said Addisu Demissie, who managed Senator Cory Booker’s presidential campaign. “They are the ones who have breathed life back into Biden’s campaign and, if anything, they may relish seeing Biden take him down.” | “I think Democratic primary voters are numbing to Trump’s buffoonery — black voters in particular,” said Addisu Demissie, who managed Senator Cory Booker’s presidential campaign. “They are the ones who have breathed life back into Biden’s campaign and, if anything, they may relish seeing Biden take him down.” |
| The only real role that Mr. Trump appeared to play on Tuesday was to ensure that electability was a chief concern for Democratic voters and was the basis for Mr. Biden’s support. | The only real role that Mr. Trump appeared to play on Tuesday was to ensure that electability was a chief concern for Democratic voters and was the basis for Mr. Biden’s support. |
| “I would describe him as Sideshow Bob in this process,” said Geoff Garin, a Democratic pollster. “There’s no evidence that he’s commanding a large army of voters who are affecting Democratic primaries.” | “I would describe him as Sideshow Bob in this process,” said Geoff Garin, a Democratic pollster. “There’s no evidence that he’s commanding a large army of voters who are affecting Democratic primaries.” |
| Despite his lack of influence, Mr. Trump appeared eager on Wednesday to continue his kibbitzing-from-the-sidelines role. “No question on the election?” he asked reporters in the Roosevelt Room, where he met with airline executives about the coronavirus. | Despite his lack of influence, Mr. Trump appeared eager on Wednesday to continue his kibbitzing-from-the-sidelines role. “No question on the election?” he asked reporters in the Roosevelt Room, where he met with airline executives about the coronavirus. |
| The president smiled as White House aides quickly shuffled reporters out of the room. | The president smiled as White House aides quickly shuffled reporters out of the room. |