Rahm talks about the broad coalition of suburban, African American, and swing voters that helped elect President Bill Clinton and President Barack Obama. In 2016, that coalition did not hold, and Hillary Clinton was defeated.
Here is a look at how and why the coalition came apart, and how this led to an opening for Donald Trump to be voted in as President.
Mehdi cites the secret recordings of Lev Parness as proof that President Trump is more threatened by a Bernie Sanders’ candidacy. During the
recording, President Trump is heard saying “I think if she (Hillary Clinton) would have picked Bernie as her vice president, it would have been tougher… but I think Bernie — because all those people that hated her so much voted for me… I got 20 percent of Bernie vote because of trade.”
Mehdi talks about Joe Biden’s support of the TPP and NAFTA which can be used against him in the general election. He argues that Biden’s role in advancing both trade policies will
hurt him in the Rust Belt which has been hit by major job losses due to the exodus of US manufacturing jobs and decline in wages.
Rahm talks about the moderate Democrats who won the 2018 midterm elections to regain control of the House. 79% of the total Democratic flips were
won by moderate candidates, including in critical presidential battleground states. None of these new members of Congress have endorsed Bernie Sanders to be the party’s nominee.
Mehdi brings up the Bankruptcy Bill which could be used against Joe Biden in the general election. In 2005, as a Delaware Senator, Joe Biden
supported a bill which made it harder for people to declare Chapter 7 bankruptcy. BAPCPA had broad support from the credit card industry, but has since been criticized for making it harder for struggling people to file for bankruptcy.
According to the latest
polls, Joe Biden would beat Donald Trump by 6 points in a general election. Bernie Sanders would beat the US President by 5 points.