Joe Biden debating Trump will be 'fool's errand' as POTUS incapable of following rules or truth, analyst says
Although Democratic presumptive nominee for the Presidential race – Joe Biden – seems to be doing a pretty decent job so far, which has included running a limited but effective campaign within the restrictions of the coronavirus pandemic, staying out of appallingly negative headlines (except the occasional forgetfulness and public gaffes) and slamming Trump whenever possible. But he could still lose the upcoming election, especially if he chooses to debate President Donald Trump.
At least that is what CNN political analyst and former White House Press Secretary Joe Lockhart said in an op-ed published last week. With a little over 90 days left for the election say, every move made by Biden will count. Although 72% of the voters who participated in the polls conducted by WSJ/NBC News, the Pew Research Center and Gallup currently believe the country is on the wrong track while being led by Trump, the numbers could soon swing the other way if Biden takes one wrong step.
Hence, Lockhart suggests that it is important for Biden to follow a few dos and don'ts. The biggest one according to him was for Biden to make sure that he does not debate the POTUS on national television because there was no way he could come out a winner. "Trump has now made more than 20,000 misleading or false statements according to the Washington Post. It's a fool's errand to enter the ring with someone who can't follow the rules or the truth. Biden will undoubtedly take heat from Republicans and the media for skipping the debates. But it's worth the risk as trying to debate someone incapable of telling the truth is an impossible contest to win," he was quoted as saying.
There were a few other advice for the former vice president to ensure a sure shot win. One of them was to be opposite to the dramatics and theatrics that Trump is famous for bringing to the table. "The public is tired of Trump's act. They want competence to replace the reality show. Stick to your own game. Always be the adult in the race," he said. And the second was not to fall for Trump's misleading and often over-the-top attacks. "Trump will goad you with ridiculous and slanderous charges on a daily basis. Use your advertising resources to respond where necessary to Trump, keep your message about what's best for the American people," he said.
It was also Lockhart's suggestion that Biden not stop concentrating on core Democratic constituencies, which were blacks, women, and suburban voters as he would need their support to beat Trump in the race. Biden was also urged to play it strategically and focus his campaign on the battleground states that he needed to get to the 271 electoral votes. Lastly, he was advised to not waste his energies on poll numbers as they are ever-fluctuating.
In conclusion, Lockhart wrote: "With 99 days to go before election day, the race is Biden's to win. There is nothing Trump can do at this point to win it on his own. He has to depend on Biden faltering over the next three months to get reelected. With discipline and focus, Biden will be inaugurated as the 46th President of the United States next January."