I see the media as being active agents in choosing the Dem nominee and I'm not sure the media's hearts are into protecting Biden. If the media figure that most of the blue collar Trump voters are not going to swing back to Biden — and I don't think they are going back to Biden — they have to worry about the rest of the Dem base. And the rest of the Dems are, as you know, OBSESSED with race/gender/ethnicity. The only reason that Mayor Peter Butt is in the race is because he's a gay guy who is married to a man; otherwise, as the white, male mayor of a city nobody cares about, he'd be toast. Beto is a joke who stands on things you're not supposed to stand on and outright apologizes for being a white man.
Keep your eyes on Obama. Biden is desperate for Obama’s endorsement, which, if it comes, isn't going to come in time to matter in the primaries (IMHO). Obama is obsessed with race and you know he doesn't give a damn about Biden.
The fact is, Biden has trouble not looking like a jackass when he's at the top of his game...and he's now 76 1/2 years old...and he seems worn out...his campaign schedule is very light...and if he gets the nomination, he'll be running against Trump, who, despite his own advanced age, has freaky stamina.
No, I am not betting that the media will protect Joe Biden. I think they are keeping their options open. If they think “Sleepy Joe” won't get the job done against Trump the way other Dems would, they will turn on him in time to nominate someone else. They'll give him SOME time to pull himself together...but not much time.
Tick-tock, Sleepy Joe, tick-tock.
You make great points. But the media protect all democrats at some level. Sometimes if they are forced to pick one over the other they will cut one loose but not before. As long as slow Joe is viable they will protect him and hide is many and obvious deficiencies. If someone better (from their perspective) gets within striking distance then they may stab him in the back and push him out the window but not until then.