Former Vice President Joe Biden is running for president. But he's been MIA for several months. The first month or two it was reasonable for him to be hunkering down in his basement, what with all the panic and the unknowns about the coronavirus. Yet, it's now been 76 days since Biden has held a press conference. It's time to answer some questions.
President Trump may not be the media's favorite person, but they acknowledge that he at least holds pressers. Maybe too many. It's "weird," says the Daily Mail's David Martosko, that Biden hasn't shown his face in so long.
Here's something weird. It's been 76 days since Joe Biden held a press conference. It was April 2 and he only took 4 questions. Hillary Clinton was talking to us a *lot* at this point in 2016. And of course Donald Trump ran us ragged with Q&As. https://t.co/GL1tPzsUt8
— David Martosko (@dmartosko) June 17, 2020
Not everyone is confused by Biden's absence. It makes complete sense to the RNC. For months they've been logging his gaffes and missteps. Last month Biden said, matter-of-factly, he's going to beat himself at the polls in November. And his message hasn't improved this month.
"I'm gonna beat Joe Biden." - Joe Bidenpic.twitter.com/ADBkPOvoDJ
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) June 16, 2020
#BarelyThereBiden is confused again!
— Trump War Room - Text TRUMP to 88022 & get the APP (@TrumpWarRoom) June 15, 2020
"You know, the rapidly rising, uh, um, uh, in with uh, with uh, I don't know, uh" pic.twitter.com/o4zNh3GHIq
Sleepy Joe was extra sleepy today, and once again hid from reporters' questions.
— Trump War Room - Text TRUMP to 88022 & get the APP (@TrumpWarRoom) June 17, 2020
Why is his staff keeping Biden from answering questions? What are they hiding? #HidenBiden pic.twitter.com/GPo07ung8M
"Why has Biden vanished?" GOP Rapid Response Director Steve Guest asked on Wednesday. "Is it because Biden needs his team to prewrite his answers and load them into his Teleprompter? Or is it because Biden’s handlers have made the decision that the more America sees of Joe Biden, the worse off he is."
They conclude it's D) All of the above.
But there's an E option too. The committee also muses that Biden doesn't want to comment on the lawlessness that has been perpetrated largely in cities run by Democrats, such as Seattle.
Of course, the last Democratic presidential nominee didn't like to answer questions either. There was a stretch during the 2016 campaign where Hillary Clinton didn't hold a press conference for over 250 days.