The phrase “democracy is on the ballot” is a weak argument to use against former President Donald Trump, according to a former senior Republican official who served in his administration.
Reince Priebus, the Republican National Committee chairman who became Trump’s first chief of staff, rejected the mantra hugged by President Joe Biden during a television appearance on Sunday.
“I just don’t buy this democracy on the ballot and … all this nonsense about Trump,” he said. on ABC’s “This Week”.”
Former Republican National Committee Chairman @Reince rejects Democrats’ warnings about a possible rematch between Trump and Biden in 2024.
“It’s incredible how they can claim that, on the one hand, democracy is on the ballot and sit with a historically weak candidate.” https://t.co/SP7oSL0KUx pic.twitter.com/N7NP62ket0
– This Week (@ThisWeekABC) December 3, 2023
Pressed to explain his point of view, Priebus referred to Biden’s position. weak survey numbers ahead of a possible 2024 rematch against Trump, who faces his own challenges, particularly with a series of criminal and civil cases, even as he maintains GOP front-runner status.
“If democracy were on the ballot, Democrats wouldn’t be sitting with a candidate with the worst numbers since they’ve polled,” he said.
Priebus said Trump and former President Barack Obama also faced some “bad” poll numbers but remained popular within their own parties. By comparison, Priebus noted, Biden is “in the tank” with his fellow Democrats.
“It’s amazing how they can claim that, on the one hand, democracy is on the ballot and sit with a historically weak candidate,” Priebus added.
Biden made the news last year when declared that “democracy is on the ballot” ahead of the midterm elections, recalling the storming of the US Capitol on January 6, 2021 and challenges to the 2020 election results by Trump and his allies. He has echoed that sentiment more recently in reference to his own re-election effort as he presents his candidacy as a fight against “Trump and his MAGA Republicans.”
New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman, another “This Week” panelist, suggested the strategy could be enough to defeat Trump.
“There are enough independent and undecided voters who are concerned about democracy being on the ballot,” he said.
Donna Brazile, former head of the Democratic National Committee, argued that Biden would do well to continue contrasting himself with Trump.
“I’m glad they pivoted to talk about Donald Trump and the future he has painted for all of us as Americans. I hope they continue to draw clear lines because Joe Biden will need it,” he said.
But Priebus maintained that focusing on Trump is a “big problem” for the Biden team because there are still several other candidates in the fight.
