The first thing Trump’s likely to do when Jo Biden finally declares is to dub the former VP “copycat”
The man who copied almost word for word a Neil Kinnock ad
A new US poll has Joe Biden beating Trump by 7% in a WH2020 match-up which puts him in the best position of all the Democrats who are seeking the nomination. In the RCP polling average he’s 5.8% ahead of his closest rival even though he has yet to formally declare. In the betting he’s favourite although the top 4 are all within three points.
Of course Biden, who got a lucky late career break when in 2008 Obama asked him to be his running mate, served for eight years as VP. He’s well known.
I’ve long been a Biden sceptic because of his age, 77, his gaffe-prone reputation, and what happened 31 years ago when he first made an unsuccessful bid for the White House.
What should concern those ready to risk their cash on a Biden bet is that which features in the 1988 YouTube clip which highlights the reason why he had to quit his first presidential bid. The allegations of plagiarism went well beyond just using almost word for word the famous Neil Kinnock pitch from the 1987 general election. There were suggestions, well documented at the time, that he had plagiarised other people’s work while he was at university. He was also accused of plagiarising JFK amongst others.
Compared with the dirt on Trump this is of course peanuts but Biden, unlike the president, has to appeal to a very different group – Democrat primary voters whose prime concern will be to select someone who can beat the current incumbent.
The plagiarism charge is going to be thrown at him and being the front runner means it is much more likely to be examined in detail. No doubt Mr Trump will create one of his deadly nicknames based on this for the former vice president.
The age thing is not yet a factor but is likely to be so as we start the Democratic primary debate program in June. This will be highlighted by being surrounded by several younger contenders in their late 30s. Is Biden going to have the stamina for an 18-month fight the presidency let alone the stamina for actually doing the job if successful?
From the start I have ruled out Biden and Sanders in my betting on the age grounds alone.