Joe Biden has formally Clinched the Democratic Presidential Nomination. “It was an honor to compete alongside one of the most talented groups of candidates the Democratic party has ever fielded,” Biden said in a Statement Friday night, ”and I am proud to say that we are going into this general election a united party.”

The Former Vice President has effectively been his Party’s Leader since his Last Challenger in the Democratic Primary, Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Ended his Campaign in April. But Biden pulled together 1,993 Delegates, Two Delegates, over the 1,991 Delegates needed to become the Nominee Friday after Seven States and the District of Columbia held Presidential Primaries Tuesday, June 2nd.

Biden reached the Threshold Three days after the Primaries because several States, overwhelmed by huge Increases in Mail Ballots, took days to tabulate Results. Democrats Award most Delegates to the Party’s National Convention based on Results in Individual Congressional Districts.

The moment was met with Little of the Traditional Fanfare as the Nation confronts Overlapping Crises. While Biden has started to venture Out more this week, the Coronavirus Pandemic has largely Confined him to his Wilmington, Delaware, Home for much of the past Three months.

“This is a difficult time in America’s history,” Biden said Friday night. “And Donald Trump’s angry, divisive politics is no answer. The country is crying out for leadership. Leadership that can unite us. Leadership that can bring us together.”

Biden’s Strong showing in States such as North Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, and Texas Reinforced his Status as the preferred Democratic Candidate of African American Voters, but the relationship has Not been without its Strained moments.

He has already Committed to Picking a Woman as a Vice Presidential Candidate. Increased Pressure, had him say he would look to pick an African American Running Mate.

At one point, the Democratic Primary included Dozens of Candidates of Different Races, Genders, and Generations, including an openly gay man. The contest was dominated by Debate over Unapologetically Progressive Ideas, including Fully Government-Funded Health Care under “Medicare for All” and a Sweeping Proposal to Combat Climate Change known as the “Green New Deal.”

Biden Prevailed by mostly offering more Moderate Approaches that he argued would make him more Electable against Trump. He Refused to Budge on his Rejection of Universal Health Care for a more Moderate version, and some of the Green New Deal’s Most Ambitious Provisions to combat Climate Change.

Biden has worked to Build his Appeal among Progressives, forming Joint Task Forces with Sanders’ Campaign to find Common Ground on Key Issues like: Health Care, the Economy, and the Environment. Biden has also Embraced a Plan to Forgive Millions of Americans’ Student Debt, meaning that he Clinches the Nomination as easily the most Liberal Standard Bearer the Democratic Party has ever had.

Biden’s embrace of his Party’s Left Flank could help him Consolidate a Democratic Base that remained Deeply Divided after the 2016 Primary and ultimately hurt Hillary Clinton in her Defeat to Trump. But it could also Undermine Biden’s attempts to Rebuild the Obama Coalition, which is often loosely defined as Minorities and Young People, as well as, Educated Americans and some Working-Class Voters.

The Former Vice President has sought, since announcing his Candidacy, to cast the Election as a Battle “for the soul of the nation,” and Promised to Restore Order and Dignity to the White House while Rehabilitating the U.S. Image on the World Stage. Such an approach, though, necessarily Focuses on being more of an Alternative to Trump, than offering Radically New Political Ideas. And that further Underscores Biden’s Difficult Task of trying to Unite his Party’s Base while Appealing to Voters from far beyond it.

“I am going to spend every day between now and November 3rd fighting to earn the votes of Americans all across this great country,” Biden promised Friday, “so that, together, we can win the battle for the soul of this nation, and make sure that as we rebuild our economy, everyone comes along.”










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker