Can the Democratic Party unite toward the goal of the U.S. presidential election in November? The current situation, in which radical leftist and moderate candidates are fiercely competing against each other, has shown how difficult it is to do so.
U.S. Democratic voters have cast their ballots in the Super Tuesday primaries that mark a peak in the early stage of the party's presidential nomination race. Former Vice President Joe Biden, a moderate, surged to intensify the appearance of a two-man contest with radical leftist Sen. Bernie Sanders, who had been leading the race.
There is no doubt that the debate within the party will heat up over who should be considered "a winning candidate" in the confrontation with U.S. President Donald Trump, who is seeking reelection.
Sanders is a heretical politician who dubs himself a democratic socialist in the United States, the spiritual center of capitalism. With progressive policies such as tax increases for the rich, the introduction of universal health care and the canceling of student loan debt, he has been gaining grassroots support, especially among young people.
The generation of so-called millennials born starting in the 1980s can hardly recall the U.S.-Soviet Cold War era. Expectations are said to be high for the correction of the disparities widening in the United States, rather than feeling resistance to the negative aspects of socialism that controls the freedom of the people. This is the driving force of the Sanders movement.
Sanders' strategy of appealing to public anger at established politics and anxiety over the future is very similar to that of Trump four years ago when white blue-collar workers were his base of support. Their similar attitude of rejecting compromise and repeating personal attacks on political opponents cannot be praised.
Rough road ahead
Moderates argue that Sanders' policies are too biased and lack adequate financial foundation and feasibility. One after another, moderate candidates such as Sen. Amy Klobuchar withdrew from the race and called for support of Biden.
Biden's great strides in the race emphasizing his experience and achievements were apparently a sign of the party's sense of urgency over the leftist development.
Exit polls show that the bases of support for Sanders and Biden are extremely different.
Sanders is strong with young people and Hispanics, while Biden gets through to middle-aged, elderly and black people. There does not seem to be any prospect of consolidation within the party before the party convention in July when the presidential candidate will be officially selected.
On the other hand, the Republic Party is strengthening its unity under Trump's personal popularity. The party's traditional position is to place importance on universal values, such as alliances, free trade and democracy. But it has largely changed due to Trump's "America First" policy and the party is now turning into the "Trump party."
Which can counter Trump -- Biden's international cooperation and the restoration of diversity or Sanders' political revolution? As long as the Democrats continue to be shaken, it will be a rough road for the party to regain the White House.
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 5, 2020)
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