The big question for the former vice president: Can he hold on to an enviable position?
By Sean Sullivan and Sean Sullivan Reporter covering national politics Email Bio Follow Matt Viser Matt Viser National political reporter Email Bio Follow May 4 at 6:40 PM In his first days as an official candidate, former vice president Joe Biden has opened a significant lead in national polls, posted the top one-day fundraising total and showcased his ability to rattle President Trump.
Sen. Kamala D. Harris seized on Trump calling her “nasty” by turning it into a rallying cry in social media ads that sought to demonstrate that Biden is not the only candidate who can provoke the president. Sanders has proved he still has a loyal following from 2016, but he has struggled to expand his base. Harris drew 20,000 people to her launch but has been unable to maintain lasting momentum before her well-received, televised questioning of Attorney General William P. Barr. Warren’s suite of detailed policy proposals has impressed activists, but it so far has not translated to a big bump in the polls.
Sanders jumped at the chance in recent days to compare himself with Biden on far-reaching free trade agreements and the Iraq War — which he opposed and Biden supported. The strategy is similar to the approach he took against Clinton in 2016, when he mercilessly pounded the establishment front-runner on their policy differences and exposed the leftward turn of many Democratic voters.
After an impressive start of his own, Sanders has dipped a bit in public polls. His crowds have diminished in recent weeks. He’s had some trouble attracting nonwhite voters. And a sizable chunk of the Democratic Party does not like him or doubts he would beat Trump. All of the candidates besides Sanders are taking a lower profile in the post-Biden period, wagering that if he falters they will be well-positioned to inherit voters up for grabs.
Part of what appears to be propelling Biden in his campaign’s early days is his strength among different sets of voters, including not only white, blue-collar voters but also African Americans. Multiple candidates are also competing for that support. “I understand the president’s been tweeting a lot about me this morning. I wonder why the hell he’s doing that!” Biden said on recent swing through Iowa, practically giddy. “I’m going to be the object of his attention for a while, folks.”
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