The MSM networks are currently giving Donald Trump dozens of hours of free media every week through his daily Drama Queen shows, peppered with his empty headed stream of consciousness rambling. This has helped raise Trump’s approval in the polls. Meanwhile the network news readers rarely devote more than a few sentences to Joe Biden or his campaign’s message. If this dynamic continues we’ll be risking another four years under Trump’s assinine leadership.
BY JULIA MANCHESTER AND MAX GREENWOOD
Former Vice President Joe Biden is struggling to keep media focus on his campaign even as President Trump holds the spotlight with his daily coronavirus task force updates.
Biden’s presidential campaign has morphed into an all-digital operation focusing on the pandemic in recent weeks, with the rollout of a newsletter, podcast, roundtables and briefings. The former vice president has kept up his network and cable news appearances as rallies and in-person events all but vanish under social distancing guidelines.
Trump, however, has commanded the general public’s attention for the past two weeks, giving updates on his administration's response to the outbreak. The briefings have an average audience of 8.5 million people on cable news, according to Nielsen data cited by The New York Times last month.
Since March 24, Biden has done 13 media interviews across news networks, late-night shows and Hispanic radio, according to a list provided by his campaign.
Of course it’s not just the cable networks who cover Trump daily, but the broadcast networks too with their far bigger audiences.
Biden’s allies acknowledge that he doesn’t have the same kind of megaphone as Trump. But they argue that his current strategy has allowed him to get out in front of the crisis without giving the appearance of openlyBiden’s allies acknowledge that he doesn’t have the same kind of megaphone as Trump. But they argue that his current strategy has allowed him to get out in front of the crisis without giving the appearance of openly politicking.
Biden does have one advantage, an opponent he can debate. This gives Biden an avenue for “politicking” without being seen as politicizing a crisis. Another primary debate would help Biden, far more than it would help Bernie, while prying the media spotlight away from Trump. As our nominee Biden needs to do this. Not as a favor for Bernie, but to help himself.
They could establish a crisis theme for another debate so it could showcase the Democratic candidates preferred approaches to a pandemic in contrast to Trump’s inattention, and tardy bumbling.
Democrats shouldn't look at this gift horse in the mouth, they should schedule another debate.
UPDATE: Second article today on this topic: