by Thomas Johnson ‘19

With the start of the new year and the government shutdown, many have begun to turn their attention to the 2020 presidential election. Currently, the most popular Democratic candidate for the 2020 presidential election is former vice president and senator Joe Biden. He has not made an official statement as to whether or not he will run in the 2020 election; however, his allies tell reporters “he is skeptical the other Democrats eyeing the White House can defeat President Trump.”

Some believe that Biden, being a moderate Democrat, will be unable to inspire voters turnout when compared to a more progressive candidate like Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders. However, Biden’s moderate political leanings are actually likely to assist him in surpassing Trump, should he win the Democratic nomination. A recent poll from MSNBC found that approximately 51 percent of Americans identify as moderates, meaning that the current political climate favors politicians without radical viewpoints. President Trump’s reputation for radical stances on immigration and outlandish comments are likely to steer these moderate voters away to different candidates. For these reasons, Joe Biden is the best Democratic candidate.