Blog #3

Joe Biden has the typical social media presence as most 70+ year old politicians. He has a Twitter that gets occasionally updated by a staff member, a Facebook that hasn’t been touched since 2013, and a bio-page at Whitehouse.gov. To his credit (not probably his control), he does have an Instagram page with nearly 300k followers. The VP doesn’t have a large social media presence, particularly one, especially compared to the amount of viral videos that come out of President Obama playing with selfie sticks on BuzzFeed or Hillary Clinton’s recent interview with Refinery29. However, our fascination with the Vice President has made him an online goldmine, with viral mashups of Joe’s funniest (and sometimes, most awkward moment). The memes featuring the VP are countless.

For the 2016 campaign, Biden should focus more connecting with millennial and creating an larger online presence that is controlled by him and his campaign staff. For starters, he can participate in a YouTube Q&A. I’d stay away from Twitter Q&As, as hashtags have a habit of going awry sometimes. Also – he could join Snapchat, giving voters a live, behind-the-scenes look at what it’s like to be the Vice President of the United States. For many candidates, the capability to tap into the millennial demographic is an important component of their efforts on social networks. Millennials are the bulk of users on many of the most popular niche social sites. Right now, Joe Biden should be utilizing social media platforms and online news stories to build his presence, outside of the slew of viral videos and silly articles featuring countless memes of the VP.

Naturally, if he decides to run for President, a campaign website will be the first line of business. Most candidates try to keep their websites simple (for the sake of Babyboomers being able to navigate and donate to the campaign), however, I think an interactive page on the website could serve as beneficial. Including links, an online forum for Joe to connect with supporters would also be a great addition. Also, an app that links to all of his social media platforms, as well as behind-the-scenes looks at campaign stops (think the Kardashian-Jenner apps, with a political spin), and even some “fun” things like: create a Biden meme, Biden emoji keyboard, etc. All of these things seem pointless to a campaign, but candidates have to understand their key audience: college students, recent grads, “young urban creative” and hipsters make up their base. Apps are the new wave, anyway. They’re more convenient – an Apple app for Biden could sync to allow users to donate via Apple Pay (hello, genius?). Having a social media presence is absolutely necessary in this day and age. As a millennial, I’d be more likely to attend a rally in support of a candidate if it’s being promoted via social media (through avenues like SnapChat, Periscope, Twitter and Instagram).

Blog #2

Joe Biden is an American; in the literal sense and the figurative sense. He has humble beginnings, felt the blows of tragedy, and rose from them. He’s the father of an American hero, who, this year, passed away from brain cancer (and he, survived TWO life-threatening braid aneurysms). He was dealt a hell of hand, yet, in his off-beat way, he pulled through, every time. Joe Biden has a likeability that crosses generations. From our grandparents to our classmates, Biden’s appeal is one of the things that assisted with the success of two-term President Obama. While he’s quite gaffe prone and known for his, often times, off-color humor, Joseph Robinette (we should vote for him solely off his middle name) Biden, Jr. is a smart guy. He was a senator for nearly 40 years before becoming the 47th Vice President of the U.S. and it’s because of his likeability – and use of ‘malarky’ in a national debate. His public image has held strong, even when the President’s public image wasn’t approved. Other than Bernie Sanders, Joe Biden might be the most likeable candidate, with men and women, both young and old. (check out his interview with Stephen Colbert for further proof: https://youtu.be/opVaEC_WxWs )

One more thing – the dude is cool.

Strengths	Weaknesses
·       Familiarity ·       Pushed POTUS to recognize same-sex marriage ·       Deeper background in foreign policy than the other candidates ·       One of the most experienced lawmakers (foreign affairs to the federal budget) ·       Has a traditional, family-man image ·       His candor and the candid nature of it ·       He’s been in politics since he was elected to Senate at age 29 ·       He was the first-ever to be appointed as a White House Advisor on Violence Against Women ·       Served as Chair of the Middle Class Task Force ·       Acts that he’s personally help pass: American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and Ready to Work Initiative	·       Has ran two previous campaigns unsuccessfully ·       Known for his miscues and non-politically correct way of handling things ·       Age (he and Bernie Sanders are amongst the oldest potential candidates) ·       Biden’s first presidential bid, in 1988, collapsed amid a plagiarism scandal
Opportunities	Threats
·       Having the most experience: Biden’s experience gives him the edge over a lot of the candidates. With 4 decades under his belt, he has more foreign policy experience than Hillary Clinton and John Kerry combined ·       Letting his personality shine through: to many, Hillary can come across as “rigid”, stern and lacking personality. ·       Zeroing in on minority votes (African American and Latino communities): These two groups have the power to tilt the vote either way. Using his familiarity with these communities, Joe Biden has the opportunity to address the issues facing these communities head on.	·       Hillary Clinton: Between her reputation for being a no non-sense political tour de force and the idea of Bill Clinton being the “First Man”, Hillary Clinton is a major threat. While her stances on women’s rights and rectifying police violence, Hillary is coming quite strong. However, her recent email “scandal” and sins of her husband’s past haven’t gone away just yet. ·       Bernie Sanders: Contrary to what many of our parents believe, Bernie Sanders is a contender. His far-left liberal stances are winning with most millenials (my sister, for example, is drowning in student debt and refuses to vote for anyone other than “the Bern”). He’s been quite outspoken on issues like student loan debt, racial prejudice and women’s rights. ·       Donald Trump: Just kidding.

What are they running on? What issues become focal?

While Uncle Joe hasn’t announced his bid just yet, here are some issues that he’ll more than likely highlight:

What He’ll Highlight	What He Should Highlight
·       Gun Control ·       Foreign Policy ·       Marriage Equality ·       Federal Budget ·       Helping the Middle Class	·       Marriage Equality ·       Gun Control – gun violence, disproportionate violence against African Americans and other marginalized groups ·       Prison Reform ·       Overwhelming amount of student loan debt ·       Federal Budget ·       Middle Class

In the past, Joe Biden focused much of his campaign (and even as VP) on these platforms:

·       Social issues: women’s rights, capital punishment, crime, drug law, education, gun control, healthcare, homeland security, LGBT rights, welfare

·       Economic issues: agriculture, banking, energy, globalization, labor unions, tax

·       Foreign policy: Specifically, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, North Korea, Iran, Cuba, Russia

What issues should become the focal point?

·       Women’s rights is one of the biggest issues: Planned Parenthood, violence against women, and the wage gaps are huge topics right

·       Racial injustice – violence against marginalized groups.

·       Prison reform is also vital. The disproportionate number of black and Latinos in prisons is alarming, as well as the stricter charges they receive for the same crimes committed by whites.

Joe Biden Should Run for President :and here’s why

            The 2016 presidential race is looming and among the numerous (and mostly unfamiliar) faces, there’s one that’s noticeably missing: Joe Biden. Where is he hiding? What’s taking so long for him to announce his run? For Democrats, Joe Biden could be the ideal candidate. He has the wit and literally, volume, to debate Donald Trump with finesse. He stands for many liberal ideologies that built the Obama administration and that can make him a strong contender against his other Dem opponents, namely Clinton and Sanders. Joe Biden is a survivor. From losing his wife and daughter, to having two life-threatening braid aneurysms, to losing his son, Beau, to brain cancer, Joe Biden has always come out stronger. His son’s dying wish was that Biden run for president. Joe Biden has made a name for himself, outside of being the Vice President to President Obama. He’s run campaigns, though unsuccessfully, so he knows the ropes. Let’s face it, Biden has the Midas touch. Take a look at the stats:

·      Joe Biden's announcement in a 2012 interview that he thought the time for same-sex marriage had pushed President Obama into making that same declaration.

·      Biden has liberal views with an old-fashioned “look”, making him appeal to millennial and baby boomers alike.

·      He’s known to be wildly inappropriate and non-PC in congressional meetings.

·      He proudly uses the term, “malarkey” in presidential debates.

·      Biden has a deeper background in foreign policy than the other candidates, with years as a ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

·      On financial reform, Biden prodded Obama to embrace Paul Volcker's idea of barring banks from risky trading.

·      The VP also tilted the discussion in favor of a bailout of the Big Three auto companies.

·      Biden is one of the most experienced lawmakers in Washington, with a deep knowledge not only of foreign affairs, but also the federal budget.

·      Biden and Obama have made one of the strongest Prez/VP duos since Clinton/Gore:

            An article ran by The Atlantic in 2012, asked the question, “Joe Biden: The Most Influential Vice President in History?” and the answer is, yes. “… In terms of the sheer number of issues Biden has influenced in a short time, the current vice president is bidding to surpass even Cheney. Fiscal issues and guns are only a small sampling of this vice president's portfolio.”  Biden has tackled everything from gun violence to gay marriage in his eight years as Vice President, giving him the track record some past presidents could even envy.

            In the past few weeks, we’ve seen a shift in the polls. Bernie Sanders has been pulling ahead of Hillary, whose been called a “liar” in recent polls. In other words, the democratic nomination is still open. In terms of age, he and Sanders are neck and neck, Hillary the younger of the bunch. Biden’s track record of being in the Senate longer than most of us have been alive is a testament to his staying power.

Sources: http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2012/12/joe-biden-the-most-influential-vice-president-in-history/266729/