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Coronavirus makes the case for Bernie self-evident
The Democratic primary has been full of whiplash-inducing turns, and the coronavirus outbreak just might set the stage for another. It’s a wildcard that promises to affect the election in ways that no one can predict. Donald Trump’s bungling of the crisis has left him vulnerable. A little over a month ago, his approval rating was at an all-time high and he could boast that he presided over a booming economy. But one pandemic and a stock market crash later, and he’s back in the low 40s.
This alters the dynamics of the primary as well. Frontrunner Joe Biden’s only real selling point—his dubious claim to being the most “electable”—seems less compelling against a weakened Trump. Putting aside the fact that centrist challengers have lost three out of the last five elections, it’s harder to make the case that Democrats have to play it safe with a moderate now that the Dow Jones average is plummeting and dragging Trump’s popularity with it.
It’s now less a question of who can win and more about who can articulate the best vision for the future. That person is and always has been Bernie Sanders.
The differences between the two candidates’ responses to the coronavirus was stark. Biden’s speech was an audition tape to show that he could look and sound like a president. It was boilerplate, but the media ate it up. The…
