Is being ‘not Trump’ enough for Joe Biden to win?

As campaigning for the 2020 presidential election continues to ramp up, you can see Joe Biden seeking to define himself by differences – to both his rival, Donald Trump, and also to some in his own party.

In the Democratic primary, Biden saw off a number of more progressive rivals, but in a drive-in town hall event for CNN on Thursday night the Democratic nominee showed that he will not be forced leftwards in the fight for the White House. He believes that a moderate candidate is needed, and is embodying that.

He said he would not put a stop to fracking for natural gas — a major industry in the swing states of Pennsylvania and Ohio – and when asked about the Green New Deal backed by the progressive wing of his party, Biden said he had his own deal to tackle the climate crisis. The former vice president is clearly wary of frightening off right-leaning independents, with the Democrats needing a broad voter base to face up against Trump's ardent support.

Biden also showed a level of empathy that Trump does not at his events. Whether it is not enough to swing some voters his way remains to be seen, but it is a stark contrast to the strongman act of his rival – a man who it seems would rather have countries fear him than work with him.  

Condemning Trump for his callous remarks is one of the simpler elements of Biden's campaign. One of his better moments on Thursday night was when he went after Trump's alleged remarks that those killed and injured in war were “losers” and “suckers” – mentioning his late son Beau's military service and how offended he was.

The handling of the coronavirus pandemic is another pillar of Biden's campaign – and Trump has made it relatively easy for Biden to pick holes in his strategy. But given the president’s eagerness to paint the picture that it is Trump (and by extension his supporters) against the world, Biden is unlikely to sway many staunch Trump voters with this stance. However, Biden's team will believe it will help bring independents on side.

We can see how Biden's campaign is shaping up for the final stretch (Trump's was always going to be a re-run of 2016 as far as he could make it). But questions remain as to whether it is enough to send the former vice president back to the White House this November.