One MSNBC guest expressed concern that Democrats appear to be too busy collectively scrambling for support among their ranks because there is a “huge enthusiasm gap” between former President Trump and President Biden.
On Thursday’s broadcast of “Deadline: White House,” The Atlantic staff writer Tim Alberta declared that the Democratic base is “entirely lacking for intensity,” and Democrats in battleground states are wondering where their volunteers have gone.
“I’ve never seen an enthusiasm gap like the one we’re witnessing in the summer of this election year,” he said.
“I’ve heard horror stories from people on the ground in Michigan, in Pennsylvania, in Arizona, about just striking out time and time again as local Democratic Party chapters, county chapters have tried to get people to come in and phone bank, get mail going, knock on doors. They can’t do it. They can’t find people,” the reporter added.
As for a dark horse coming in to replace Biden, Alberta said the pivot would provide a “jolt of immediate energy” and enthusiasm.
“If Biden were to step aside and if Democrats had a new standard-bearer atop the ticket, you’ve got to expect that they would see a massive, historic fundraising surge of their own, which is one reason among many that so many elected officials at this point are pressuring the president to step aside,” he continued.
Van Jones, a CNN contributor who served as an adviser to Obama, spoke Thursday during the commission special in which he described how strong and passionate the Republican party is at the moment.
Earlier in the night, Jones said the former president had overcome a plethora of challenges before being officially authorized to be named as a Republican nominee.
“Dreams become nightmares and nightmares become dreams. You’re watching a nightmare become a dream for Donald Trump,” Jones said. “He has had a nightmarish summer with, you know, convictions and indictments and all kinds of stuff, almost got shot. It’s becoming a dream for him.”
For President Joe Biden, he asserted however, the dream has turned into a nightmare.
The AP-NORC poll, conducted July 11-15 but largely completed before the attempted assassination of Trump, found that 7 in 10 adults, including 65% of Democrats, say Biden should withdraw and allow his party to select a different nominee.
Nationally, 57% of adults said that Trump should abandon the race in favor of a new appointment by his party. Still, there is plenty of support for Trump in his own party, with 73% of Republicans saying he should remain as the GOP candidate.
However, only 35% of Democrats say Biden should continue his re-election campaign.
