Forward-looking message key to Dem win

[Andra, 7-21-24, Politico Magazine, “15 Experts Predict What Biden’s Dropout Means for the 2024 Election”, , Accessed 7-21-24, AMH]

Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the 2024 presidential election removes one attack arrow from the Republican quiver. But regardless of whom the Democrats select as their nominee, they will need to craft a compelling, forward-looking message and respond deftly to the dissatisfaction among a significant segment of the electorate that made Biden vulnerable long before his disastrous debate performance on June 27. If they don’t, those who pushed Biden out of this race will probably still feel unsettled in a month or two.

Whether Kamala Harris or another Democrat is chosen as the nominee, Donald Trump and his allies will tie every perceived failure of the Biden Administration to them. As such, it is incumbent on the new nominee to be ready from Day 1 to correct the record when Trump engages in policy mischaracterizations, hyperbole and outright lies. They will also have to present a truthful, coherent, compelling and prospective vision for what they want to achieve and why. While contrasting a Democratic vision with Trump’s record, character, and the plans of his allies is certainly part of that contrast, it will take more than outlining existential threats or honing in on a few issues for Democrats to create a winning coalition. They are going to have to convince a diverse coalition of voters to support them because even if those voters disagree with Democrats on a few issues, on balance, Democratic policies would be in their general best interest.

Biden’s arguments to this end were floundering before June 27. If the new nominee runs with the old playbook, they risk being equally vulnerable. Moreover, this risk will be compounded by the fact that Biden’s departure already introduces the logistical challenges of retooling a complex, national campaign. In a best case scenario, voters may be more receptive to Biden’s original message because the new candidate will not be dogged with questions of acuity. But the new campaign would do well to prepare for the toughest attacks that an emboldened Trump could possibly make because that’s what is likely to happen next.