Posted on 07/07/2020 3:21:02 PM PDT by Libloather
Republicans keep hoping and expecting that former vice president Joe Biden will have to leave his basement and hit the campaign trail sometime soon. Dont be surprised, though, if that doesnt happen. Biden looks to be trying to run a 21st-century version of the standard 19th-century front porch campaign - and it might work.
Presidential candidates rarely actively campaigned in the 19th century. The lack of a national railroad system made travel too arduous for candidates before 1850. Even after that, it took days for trains to travel between major cities, and the lack of any means of mass communication besides partisan newspapers meant any candidates would exhaust themselves for little to no impact. Many aspiring presidents therefore did what made sense: They stayed at home and let the crowds come to them.
Republican campaigns were the experts at staging these efforts. They would treat each day the way modern consultants do, selecting a largely favorable audience and designing a speech to make a point relevant to the audience. Workers would hear about tariffs while black voters would hear about emancipation. Reporters would camp out at the candidates house, transcribe the words, take the photos and send their missives to their local papers via telegraph. Much like a rally or photo op today, front-porch campaigners could reach the entire nation with a targeted, clear message.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
If the practice of front-porch campaigning pre-dates the Civil War then it must be RACIST!!!
Can’t wait to see the first time he yells to the kids to get off his lawn. Can’t wait to see him lose his train of thought and his face light up when he hears the Ice Cream Truck music.
Henry Olsen is apparently ignorant that up to the 1850s it was considered unacceptable for individuals to promote their own candidacies for President. The fiction was maintained that they were being reluctantly forced into public service by supporters. They might pull strings behind the scenes, and might just happen to give some “important” speeches (circulated in letters which might find their way into newspapers) or participate in serious debates on issues, but running openly was tacky and showed the wrong sort of ambition. I’m sure there were exceptions, but it wasn’t the norm.
The nursing home has a front porch and it isn’t closed due to COVID-19?
That was Greg that said that ... pissed me off. Who’s side is tha guy on. Lost a lot of respect for him
So moving from his basement to the Front Porch.
Maybe by election day he’ll be out near the end of his driveway.
He was campaigning before railroads, so he should be well versed.
Pravda all for the past when it suits them.
He should make a record and send them out so people can listen to them on their phonographs.
Thanks, Nateman!
Never Trumpers for Biden.
Is Joe going to let off two blasts from his double-barrel shotgun on that front porch?
“Presidential candidates rarely actively campaigned in the 19th century. The lack of a national railroad system made travel too arduous for candidates before 1850.”
Wow, wow, wow, they’ll say anything to prop up the old coot.
Girls under fifteen get a special backroom meeting with Uncle Joe!
Biden seems to be slip sliding away. He is the man who is not really there.
It might work if he would stop sitting on his neighbors front porch.
The campaign has to have Biden controlled. No impromptu events ever
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