Challenging Cory Booker on the debate stage seems like a 'net negative' for Joe Biden, Democratic strategist says
Some rivalries are forming in the overcrowded Democratic presidential primaries, as candidates have begun to trade criticisms, The Hill reports.
Former Vice President Joe Biden, the frontrunner in early polls, has often been on the receiving end, particularly when it comes to his past record on civil rights. Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) went after his old stances on federal busing during the first debate, and Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) has followed Harris' lead. His campaign has critiqued Biden for playing a role in creating America's system of mass incarceration.
Biden's campaign already fired back in an attempt to turn the tables on Booker, as well as to send a signal that the former vice president would not be caught off guard on next week's debate stage, where he'll be flanked by Harris and Booker. "We are ready to expect the unexpected," a Biden campaign adviser told The Hill.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
But not everyone thinks that strategy is wise, especially when it comes to Booker, who hasn't gained much ground in the race (Harris, on the other hand, has surged in the polls.)
"It seems like a net negative (for Biden)," Democratic strategist Adam Parkhomenko said. "It seems like his best path to victory would be not saying a word." Read more about the lead up to the debates at The Hill.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Tim is a staff writer at The Week and has contributed to Bedford and Bowery and The New York Transatlantic. He is a graduate of Occidental College and NYU's journalism school. Tim enjoys writing about baseball, Europe, and extinct megafauna. He lives in New York City.
-
Global court issues arrest warrant for Netanyahu
Speed Read The International Criminal Court issued warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who stand accused of war crimes
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Gaetz bows out, Trump pivots to Pam Bondi
Speed Read Gaetz withdrew from attorney generation consideration, making way for longtime Trump loyalist Pam Bondi
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
GOP's Mace seeks federal anti-trans bathroom ban
Speed Read Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina has introduced legislation to ban transgender people from using federal facilities
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Ukraine fires ATACMS, Russia ups hybrid war
Speed Read Ukraine shot U.S.-provided long-range missiles and Russia threatened retaliation
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
New York DA floats 4-year Trump sentencing freeze
Speed Read President-elect Donald Trump's sentencing is on hold, and his lawyers are pushing to dismiss the case while he's in office
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Wyoming judge strikes down abortion, pill bans
Speed Read The judge said the laws — one of which was a first-in-the-nation prohibition on the use of medication to end pregnancy — violated the state's constitution
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US sanctions Israeli West Bank settler group
Speed Read The Biden administration has imposed sanctions on Amana, Israel's largest settlement development organization
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Gaetz ethics report in limbo as sex allegations emerge
Speed Read A lawyer representing two women alleges that Matt Gaetz paid them for sex, and one witnessed him having sex with minor
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published