The questions about Joe Biden’s fitness for office have been growing with Republicans and independents and even the mainstream media. Among top Democrats, there is still full-throated support for the president, at least, in front of the cameras. But now, leading Democrats are looking at Biden’s poll numbers in their states and are beginning to give voice to their worries.
I’m extremely concerned, said Mayor Van Johnson of Savannah, Ga. President Biden is a man of great character. Certainly, he’s a president of great accomplishments. But that is not translating to southeast Georgia.
Johnson thinks the Biden campaign’s bland assurances that once it becomes clear that the choice will be between him and Donald Trump, voters will no longer see the race as a referendum on Biden.
Johnson isn’t buying that argument.
He called the choice argument a passive strategy and said the enthusiasm gap between the parties favored Republicans by a wide margin.
I don’t see any passion, any excitement, nothing, he said. It might be a situation of too little, too late.
For some reason, the Biden campaign has felt no urgency to create state organizations. He finally hired some top staffers in three battleground states last week but top state party officials are concerned because congressional candidates are running ahead of Biden, drawing more support than the president.
Obviously, it should be the other way around. Any president who has to ride the coattails of down-ballot candidates is a probable loser.
These concerns within the Democratic Party highlight a growing unease regarding President Joe Biden’s ability to secure widespread support. Despite the enduring support expressed by prominent Democrats, such as Mayor Van Johnson of Savannah, Ga., who admires Biden’s character and accomplishments, there is a clear discrepancy between the president’s popularity nationally and his standing in key states like Georgia.
Mayor Johnson, echoing a sentiment shared by other leading Democrats, has voiced his uneasiness with the Biden campaign’s reliance on the argument that voters will ultimately choose between Biden and Donald Trump, shifting the focus away from Biden’s performance. He characterizes this approach as a passive strategy and emphasizes the enthusiasm gap currently favoring Republicans, suggesting that the absence of passion and excitement surrounding Biden’s campaign may hinder his chances of success.
Adding to these concerns, the Biden campaign’s lack of urgency in establishing state organizations has raised alarm among top state party officials. While he recently hired top staffers in three battleground states, congressional candidates are outpacing the president in terms of support and campaign efforts. This reversal, where down-ballot candidates are garnering more backing than the president himself, is troubling as it undermines the notion that Biden’s popularity should drive support for other Democratic candidates.
The Democratic Party faces a crucial challenge in reconciling Biden’s dwindling poll numbers with the need to consolidate support amongst voters. As discussions regarding Biden’s fitness for office become more prominent, Democrats must address the enthusiasm gap and take proactive steps to ensure the president’s campaign gains the traction necessary to secure success in key states. Failure to do so could jeopardize the party’s prospects and potentially impact down-ballot candidates who rely on a strong presidential candidate to bolster their own campaigns.
