Despite worsening poll numbers for the president, his party, and his policies, Vice President Joseph Biden has been dispatched to assure fellow Democrats that things aren’t as bad as they seem.
According to Jeff Zeleny in the New York Times, Biden “admonished Democrats on Friday to shake away their pessimism about the fall elections, arguing that the prospect of historic losses would be minimized because the Republican Party has been overtaken by extreme candidates and stale ideas.” As opposed to, say, stale candidates with extreme ideas.
Besides the vice president, DNC chairman Tim Kaine has remained upbeat about November. As the Times reports, he brushed off the opposition as “easy streeters and country clubbers.” (During a recent lunch at the Tabard Inn restaurant, a friend and I were seated next to Kaine and Homeland Security secretary Janet Napolitano. I can say Kaine seemed genuinely upbeat and certainly chattier than his lunch partner—the two split the bill.)
Meanwhile, HHS secretary Kathleen Sebelius maintains that health care should be a strong talking point for the Democrats this fall. Notes the Times,
A poll released Friday by CNN showed that 56 percent of Americans oppose the health care bill, while 40 percent support it. The sentiment has barely changed over the last five months.
Biden predicted, “The day after the election, there will be a Democratic majority in the House and a Democratic majority in the Senate. If it weren’t illegal, I’d make book on it.” My sources tell me the vice president will be flying next to Pakistan to assure flood victims things could’ve been worse. He’s also planning on meeting with the Washington Nationals to let them know they shouldn’t fret over Stephen Strasburg’s forearm injury—they’ll do just fine without him. And I hear he’s predicting this year’s summer blockbuster will be Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.
