Biden strategy of favoring local over national press draws concerns about electability

Joe Biden is prioritizing engagement with local press in early primary states over interviews with national outlets, a media strategy sowing doubts about his electability against President Trump — his key selling point in the race for the Democratic nomination.

The choice to focus on local over national interviews, critics and even some supporters say, was required to protect the candidate from verbal gaffes that have been a hallmark of his political career. The problem for Biden, insiders say, is that avoiding the hard-hitting national press and the tough issues they raise suggests weakness and fosters questions about his ability to handle Trump in a general election.