Trump exit and Biden entrance-half a year until the US presidential election-May 14, 17:11

The new coronavirus, which is raging even in the United States, has cast a shadow over the presidential election, which is less than six months old. In a hurry, President Trump is forced to rebuild his strategy and former Democratic vice president Biden. However, the aim is to contrast with the "exit strategy" and "entrance strategy". (Washington branch reporter Takeshi Kurihara)

President's Great Needle

President Trump has emphasized the best American economy as a result. Initially, he was repeatedly optimistic about the effects of the new coronavirus. However, when the stock price plummeted due to the explosive spread in the United States and employment became unstable, the policy was forced to change from "an economic driver" to "a crisis president."

Unified the federal government's information dissemination to the White House press conference, positioning the fight against the virus as "war against invisible enemies" and self-proclaimed "wartime president." With the emergency budget of 300 trillion yen, which is equivalent to 15% of US GDP, such as distributing checks with their own names to the people and generously providing working capital to SMEs and farmers. We have put in place a fiscal stimulus package.

In the US televised interviews, he set himself up on the "stage" for more than an hour every day, including weekends, to monopolize the news.

Evaluation of crisis leaders

But the president's strategy is far from successful. Comparing the approval ratings of the leaders of each country at the time when the number of infected people surged around the world, it can be seen that President Trump is not as well evaluated as the leaders of European countries.

President Trump himself describes the seriousness of the spread of this infection as "more than the attack on Pearl Harbor and the terrorist attacks in 2001", but immediately after the terrorist attacks, the support rate has reached 90%. Compared to President Bush at the time, which almost doubled it, it seems unlikely that he would be at the mercy of this crisis.

Looking further, it is becoming more apparent that the people value the Governor than President Trump over how to deal with the virus.

"Trump Festival" is a minefield

"Isn't there a way to inject the disinfectant?"
"Isn't it better to illuminate the body with ultraviolet rays?"

Meanwhile, a number of unscientific remarks made by President Trump at a press conference. President Trump has always been developing his own perspectives and claims that are not traditionally politicians, but this time, he has a particularly bad reputation. Sensing such public opinion, the president abandoned the press conferences that he had been holding every day and began refraining from the opportunity to send out. The "wartime president" was forced to change his strategy soon after the war began.

Exit strategy from "wartime"

Now, President Trump is aiming for an "exit" from the image of the leader of the crisis. Then, it was a return to the traditional "Trumpism" of "American economy first" and "foreign hardship," which had been completely squealed by the confusion of antivirus measures. It's also a rougher method than before.

President Trump aspires to resume economic activity. He also shows his view different from that of experts, such as showing the prospect that the key vaccine will be made by the end of the year, and emphasizes that the groundwork for the resumption is on the way. Inviting the Governor of each state to the White House will also support the resumption of economic activities. President Trump himself has also been cheering on Twitter about the demonstrations calling for a reopening all over the United States.

China is the target of the foreign hard line. The internal document for the Republican elections really illustrates this. It was distributed to campaigners by a person in charge of election strategy. The 57-page document also mentions ways to criticize Democratic candidates who fight in the presidential election. But most are criticisms of China. Then, the language for persuading the voters is specifically written.

"The virus has spread all over the world by the Chinese government, resulting in the loss of American lives and jobs." "Only Trump can confront China."

President Trump himself has also been criticizing China. The virus repeatedly claimed that it had spread from a research center in Wuhan, Hubei, China, even mentioning the possibility of raising tariffs, claiming compensation and sanctions against China.

President Trump has announced that he will soon resume a rally in which he appeals these claims directly to supporters throughout the United States.

Basement presidential candidate

Contrary to President Trump's search for an "exit strategy," former opposition and Democratic vice president Biden's biggest challenge is the "entry strategy" to get to the front stage of the election campaign.

According to the Trump administration's guidelines, which called for refraining from going out unnecessarily and participating in meetings, Mr. Biden created a studio in the basement to call from his home and appealed to his supporters via the Internet.

One of the twenty-four seasons, "Keichitsu" (this year, March 5th), is said to be about the time when the insects that have finished wintering are ejected from the holes. He has diminished activity on the front stage and dived into the basement, losing even the opportunity to come out.

The Biden camp is backed by former high-profile Democratic politicians, including former President Obama, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Mr. Sanders who has withdrawn from the nomination list, and Mr. Buttigieg. Despite the fact that the party is in the form of a party, the fact that Mr. Biden's ability to communicate and the ability to spread on social media is largely different for the Trump camp.

However, experts say Mr. Biden's "Chicko" has produced a surprising effect.

Professor Mitchell McKinney of the University of Missouri points out:

"Now, the more quiet and quiet Biden is, and the more Trump is out there, the better he seems to be."

Mr. Biden is also known for his frequent blunders. In the Democratic Party's nomination battle, there were many times that the words were mixed up and the venue was inadvertently improperly used. Speaking language can be said to be the life of a politician. It would be ironic if the situation where one could not speak up and the "loss of enemies" caused by the proverbs of political opponents led to Mr Biden's relative support.

That said, in fact, some polls dominate the war-torn states.

Is Silence Always Money?

However, Mr. Biden cannot stay silent forever. Even if you go to the ring of the election campaign, the future is difficult. After being officially nominated as a Democratic candidate, a direct confrontation with the arguing genius Donald Trump awaits in a debate with presidential candidates. After all, Mr. Biden's apologetic habits and arrogance (totsuben) are big anxiety factors.

The suspicion of regular sexual harassment is also a source of concern for Mr. Biden.

In addition, President Trump has also put a severe criticism of China on Mr. Biden. Taking up Biden's past remarks, he is spending a huge amount of money to disseminate a video that impresses China as weak. With Republicans and Democrats alike, the Trump camp's claims can be a huge risk to voters as Americans continue to rebel against China.

What controls adversity

The current president is overwhelmingly advantageous in the US presidential election. The last incumbent who was not reelected was President Bush (Republic), who lost to Clinton (Democrat) in 1992. What became famous during the election was the Clinton slogan, The economy, stupid. It is a slogan that symbolizes the strategy of maximizing the use of the signs of recession seen at that time in election campaigns.

There will be no doubt that the new coronavirus and the resulting economic downturn will continue to be the primary concern of Americans in the fall of the presidential election. Which side can draw the victory using this adversity? For now, keep an eye on it.

Washington Bureau Reporter
Takeshi Kurihara