Franklin Foer, author of "The Last Politician", delves into the nuances of Biden's presidency and the challenges posed by perceptions of his age. The conversation covers Biden's polling struggles amid a surprising political landscape, including Trump's legal troubles and the looming threat of impeachment. Foer shares insights on Biden's accomplishments and the strategic messaging needed to connect with younger voters, emphasizing the evolving narrative around his leadership as the 2024 election approaches.
Biden's campaign is addressing concerns about his age by highlighting his competence and accomplishments as president.
The campaign is focusing on reaching out to less engaged voters through influential figures and platforms, aiming to provide information and counter misconceptions.
The Biden campaign is strategically avoiding discussing Trump to prioritize resources, maintain messaging focus, and not elevate Trump's candidacy.
To win the 2024 elections, Biden needs to effectively frame the race as a choice between Republican extremism and the protection of democracy, emphasizing the risks of another Trump presidency.
Deep dives
Addressing concerns about Biden's age
One of the key challenges for the Biden campaign is addressing concerns about Biden's age. To counter this, they are using an ad that highlights Biden's active engagement as president, such as his trip to Ukraine and his efforts in fixing supply chains and fighting corporate greed. The ad aims to show Biden's competence and ability to do the job at 80 years old.
Emphasizing Biden's accomplishments
To address concerns about what Biden has done, the campaign is airing another ad during the NFL season opener that focuses on the progress made during Biden's presidency. The ad highlights his efforts in lowering inflation, reducing unemployment, and passing legislation to lower the cost of medicine, cut utility bills, and make the US more energy independent. The ad aims to inform voters about Biden's achievements and demonstrate his ability to deliver results that matter.
Reaching out to less engaged voters
In addition to paid ads, the campaign is also focused on reaching out to less engaged voters who do not consume political news. This could involve leveraging influential figures, appearing on podcasts, and other platforms that reach people who are not typically exposed to politics. The goal is to provide information and context to these voters and counter any misconceptions they may have.
Strategic avoidance of discussing Trump
The Biden campaign has made a strategic decision to largely avoid discussing Trump at this point in the campaign. The focus is primarily on building up Biden's image, informing voters about his accomplishments, and addressing concerns about his age. By not engaging heavily with Trump, the campaign aims to prioritize its resources, maintain focus on its messaging, and avoid elevating Trump's candidacy in the primary.
Biden's success hinges on positive information
The main challenge for Joe Biden's presidency lies in the lack of positive information about him. Voters are not lacking negative information about Donald Trump, but they have a dearth of positive information about Biden. To address this problem, it is important for Biden's team to focus on showcasing his accomplishments and delivering positive messages that resonate with the public. By framing the race on his own terms and emphasizing his agenda, Biden can gain more credibility and effectively engage in political attacks.
The significance of framing the election choice
In order to win the 2024 elections, Joe Biden needs to effectively frame the choice in the race. Drawing inspiration from Barack Obama's strategy in 2011, where he laid out the election's choice without explicitly mentioning Romney, Biden should articulate his own vision for the election. It is crucial to present the choice as a referendum on Republican extremism and the protection of democracy. By emphasizing the importance of democracy and the potential risks of another Trump presidency, Biden can effectively shape the narrative and garner support.
The importance of selling Biden's achievements
One of the key challenges for the Biden administration is effectively communicating their achievements to the public. Despite significant accomplishments such as passing historic legislation and successfully managing the COVID-19 vaccination campaign, the administration has struggled to showcase these achievements to the American people. By highlighting their economic progress, efforts to protect democracy, and successful policy initiatives, such as promoting clean energy and addressing monopolies, the administration can build a strong campaign narrative that resonates with voters. It is crucial for the administration to claim credit for their accomplishments and actively convey their positive impact on people's lives.
Does Biden really have an "age problem"—and how should he solve it? Jon and Dan dive into the latest polling to see why Biden is neck and neck with a guy facing 91 felony counts. Plus, Congress is back in session, and their first order of business is—you guessed it—impeachment! Later, Franklin Foer stops by to talk about his exhaustively reported new book on Biden, "The Last Politician."
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