Opinion: Joe Biden could be the best bet to beat Trump, KTumulty writes. If he gets that far.
By Karen Tumulty Karen Tumulty Columnist covering national politics Email Bio Follow Columnist April 25 at 12:40 PM By launching his 2020 campaign with shameful images of what happened in Charlottesville 20 months ago, former vice president Joe Biden has put the focus on what should be the central question of the 2020 election.
The former vice president recalled the most disgraceful statement Trump has ever uttered: There were “some very fine people on both sides.” It may be that the other contenders have overlearned the lessons of Hillary Clinton’s inability to make that argument stick against Trump in 2016. Clinton, however, was a flawed messenger; decades-old questions about her honesty and trustworthiness were inflamed by the controversy surrounding her use of a private email server, which was vastly overplayed in the media. Doubts about Trump were tempered with hope — long since dashed — that he would change once in office.
But if we gained any new insight from special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s long-awaited report on the investigation into Russian influence in the 2016 election, it came from the granular, behind-the-scenes look we got at Trump’s crass conduct and wanton lies. Though Biden is, by virtue of his name recognition, the front-runner of this crowded field, most senior Democrats I talk to are skeptical that he will make it through the primaries.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Joe Biden’s Toughest 2020 Opponent Is Joe BidenHow he runs against his past—on crime, on integration, on Anita Hill—will determine whether he is a strong front-runner or a weak one.
Read more »
Opinion | Joe Biden identifies the No. 1 threat: TrumpIt's hard to escape the sense that Biden and top Democrats are still not up to the challenge of the moment.
Read more »
Opinion | Joe Biden makes the case: He’s the guy to kick Trump outOpinion: Joe Biden makes the case that he’s the guy to kick Trump out
Read more »
Opinion | Joe Biden is wrong about TrumpHe sees Trump as an interruption, not part of the story.
Read more »
Opinion | Here’s exactly what Joe Biden should say in his presidential announcementFrom the get-go, he needs to explain why his age and moderation are reasons for Democrats to nominate him.
Read more »
Opinion | Joe Biden gets ready to take the plungeHe's an entirely different type of candidate than every other Democrat in the race.
Read more »
Opinion | Why Joe Biden?If he wants to be president, he'll have to answer the most basic question.
Read more »
Opinion | Is the new Democratic Party too woke to nominate Joe Biden?The party is quickly moving left on race and identity issues. But there's still an opening for a candidate such as the former vice president.
Read more »
Trump welcomes Joe Biden to the 'nasty' 2020 race by insulting his intelligenceLess than three hours earlier, Biden announced his 2020 bid in a video that attacked Trump.
Read more »
Trump is 'concerned' about Joe Biden because he's the 'best prepared' candidate, former RNC chair saysFormer RNC Chair Michael Steele warned that there would be “a lot of breast-beating and ugly tweets.”
Read more »
Analysis | For Joe Biden, Charlottesville defines the Trump presidencyIn his announcement video, the former vice president attacked President Trump's legacy on race.
Read more »