With the 2020 US presidential election fast approaching, things are hopping up in terms of the battle between incumbent President Donald Trump and his Democratic rival Joe Biden. Even the best odds on the US presidential elections place the showdown as too close to call, with Biden currently holding the slightest edge.
Both politicians have been trading verbal barbs ahead of the election, with the two candidates on the offensive to whip up bad press around their opponent and curry favor among their support base. It’s set to be just as hard-fought a race as the 2016 election, which saw Trump defeat Hillary Clinton by way of the Electoral College votes, despite Clinton winning the popular vote.
But one aspect of the election that may play into Biden’s hands is the fact that he served as Barack Obama’s vice-president for two terms, giving him a flavor of what it would be like to hold the top job and sit in the hot seat himself. Obama was an immensely popular President for the most part, and Biden will have learned a lot from serving alongside such a well-respected politician.
Of course, Biden is no spring chicken, and at 77 years of age, he is over three years older than Trump, but his vast experience in politics might just help swing things his way. This is especially true when you consider that the presidency is Trump’s first real job in politics. While that may have been one of Trump’s selling points back in 2016, the question is whether he has proved himself capable politically of remaining President for another four years.
It’s an increasingly difficult task to be a strong leader of the United States when the country is experiencing so much division. However, Biden has the experience and know-how that should help guide him toward healing those great divides and instilling more belief in the American public. Of course, being President is a whole different game compared with being vice president, but judging by how close Biden was with Obama, you can bet that the latter will have been passing on plenty of tips.
No matter who wins the election, the president will have a lot to contend with over the next four years. Not least of these issues is the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. A priority for either Trump or Biden will be to foster a safe return to normality throughout the United States and bring about economic growth as fast as possible.
This is where Biden’s experience in politics might come in handy in dealing with the fast pace he’ll need to work at to ensure the nation moves safely away from the virus and into a more prosperous future. The handling of the coronavirus is one area where Trump has perhaps lost some support among his followers in recent months, and that’s an area where Biden may be able to make gains in the run-up to the election.
When it comes to Election Day, the race to become President of the United States may be too close to call. However, little things like Biden’s closeness to Obama and his experience of the White House might help swing things his way.