1. Nobody except the power mad want to go into the White House right after Barack Obama and clean up his mess. Name the topic; it's a mess.
2. They think Donald Trump might actually win the Republican nomination and the general election, but don't expect him to run for a 2nd term. Pick a reason.
3, And this could be the most important one. Losing this election cycle clears the deadwood logjam among Hillary, Colonel Sanders, Joe Biden, John Kerry, Al Gore, and the rest of the DemoDepends crowd. Kind of like throwing the last few games of the season in order to get a better draft pick. If the Dems clear off the 1960's crowd, they might be able to get some serious candidates for 2020.
I think you are correct.
That is a far too sensible stance for any democrat to take. I think Biden, along with most of them, is too egotistical to think like that.
That is forward thinking. Who among them, except maybe strategists they won’t listen to, will think ahead like that?