Former Vice President Joe Biden is coming off his worst week on the campaign trail and has seen his lead shrink in Iowa amid new attacks from Democratic rivals hoping to close the gap with the race’s front-runner.
The rough patch, topped with a flip-flop on the Hyde Amendment that brought unwelcome comparisons to other Democratic candidates on the keystone issue of abortion rights, has brought new scrutiny to Biden and his campaign.
The former vice president is facing questions about whether he is too much of a centrist for a party leaning left, and whether those supporting him in public opinion polls really hold any passion for his candidacy.
“There are times when it feels like he’s the front-runner by default,” said one Democratic strategist, who pointed to the relatively small crowds at Biden campaign events. “That’s not how you win the White House.”
Biden’s team has at times kept him out of the public spotlight, with the former vice president recently skipping events in California and Iowa that were attended by many other candidates in the 2020 field.
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04.20.2024