Donald Trump’s daily press conferences on Wuhan coronavirus updates is must watch TV. Trump and various health and senior officials spend close to two hours providing detailed information, and then subject themselves to an hour or more of questions from reporters.
It’s spellbinding at times, with Trump clearly in command. It’s what he loves, mixing it up with reporters. Sometimes that sparring makes news itself, but even without the drama from reporters, Trump shows himself in command.
I haven’t seen viewership numbers yet, but with so many people sitting at home due to the rolling economic shutdown, I bet the numbers across multiple platforms are huge. It may be why a recent poll showed majority support for how Trump is handling the crisis.
Lost is this crisis management is Joe Biden. He has all but disappeared.
Biden’s disappearance has been noticed by Democrats, particularly Bernie supporters. Peter Daou, a longtime Hillary supporter, tweeted his frustration:
People, I mean this sincerely: #whereisjoe?Trump is in front of the cameras every day, reassuring people, putting on the appearance of “leadership.”Where is #Biden? Why isn’t he dominating the airwaves???* * *And: Two new polls show Trump with majority approval on his handling of the #pandemic.If Dem leaders think this crisis will definitely damage him, they are greatly mistaken.If they cede the appearance of leadership to him, it’s a major problem.
To anyone doing victory laps hailing the end of Trump’s presidency, contemplate these poll numbers…Trump intends to outflank establishment Dems from the left, stealing #Bernie’s policies to manage the crisis, then call himself a successful “wartime” president.* * *TAKE NOTE, DEMS:Team Trump may be morally bankrupt, but they’re not stupid.Trump sees the #pandemic as way to boost his polls and take even more control. He’s already outflanked Dem leaders on progressive policies. And yet again, Dem leaders are like deer in headlights.
My response:
You know why. Biden is not up to the task. The worst thing he could do is spend hours in front of cameras fielding questions. Someone might ask him why he opposed restricting travel from China. Biden is the worst candidate on China, and he is the likely Democratic nominee.
The reaction from Bernie supporters was a big ‘I told you so’.
So where was Joe? Apparently trying to figure out how the internets work:
On a call right now, @JoeBiden says he’s in the process of finding a way to directly answer questions every day on camera. “I want to be in daily or at least significant contact with the American people and communicate what I would be doing and what I think we should be doing.”
Joe Biden says he is “desperately” looking to be in regular contact with the American public, perhaps with regular press conferences in Wilmington, Del., or using technology. “They tell me there’s ways we can do teleconferencing via us all being in different locations,” he says.
Biden not only has ceded the spotlight, he is reinforcing his image as out of touch, as this Jezebel post snarked, Joe Biden Will Lead As Soon As He Figures Out How This Damn Computer Works:
As the country hunkers down in self-isolation and politicians and celebrities take to social media to remind us they’re still alive and famous, one question reigns supreme: Where is Joe Biden? After his major primary wins, the assumed nominee for the Democratic party has gone largely silent. Is he self-isolating at home? Is he sick? If he’s sick does that mean Jill is in charge? Is he calling every single CEO in America on a rotary phone? No one knows.
Biden apparenly is planning daily conference calls with reporters. That’s not going to work. Trump is on TV speaking daily to millions, Biden will be preaching to the choir (reporters).
Joe Biden is planning a regular shadow briefing on coronavirus to start as early as Monday to show how he would handle the crisis and address what he calls the lies and failures of President Trump.Biden gave a preview of what’s to come in a conference call with reporters Friday, where he listed a litany of false and misleading statements from Trump, who has been holding regular White House press conferences concerning coronavirus preparedness and response that have been broadcast live on all major networks.
Bet you didn’t know Joe had a conference call with reporters today. That’s the point. Biden needs a controlled setting so he doesn’t stick his foot in his mouth, or worse, freeze up calling attention to his mental acuity issues.
We don’t know where this crisis leads, but Biden is hardly showing himself to have the leadership ability or quality needed in a time of crisis.
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