Matt Margolis explains at PJMedia.com why we should expect Democratic presidential candidates to take more shots against the last Democratic president’s record.
After the CNN debates earlier this week, many were shocked to see 2020 Democrats go after Joe Biden by trashing the Obama-Biden years. Biden himself said that while he expected to be attacked, “I was a little surprised how much the incoming was about Barack.” He added, “I hope the next debate we can talk about our answers to fix the things that Trump has broken, not how Barack Obama made all these mistakes. He didn’t.”
But Biden shouldn’t be surprised one bit. If he didn’t expect this, then he’s not a smart candidate. Months ago I pointed out that by jumping in the race, “Biden [wasn’t] simply putting his legacy on the line, but also the legacy of Barack Obama.” Obama’s presidency marked a huge leftward shift for the party, but that leftward shift has continued since he left office.
“In a party racing further and further to the left, [Joe Biden’s] primary opponents will do everything they can to paint the Obama years as insufficient—having not gone far enough for a party that will settle for nothing less than the most radical of positions anymore,” I explained. Democrats who once loved Obamacare and believed in border security are now embracing Medicare for All and open borders. I said back in April that Biden’s opponents will “tie him to Barack Obama and blast the Obama years if that’s what it takes to take him down.” As long as he’s the frontrunner, the only way to knock Biden down is to take Obama down with him.
