Joe Biden won the Democratic nomination by emphasizing his relative moderation, but he is preparing to govern as an activist. His campaign has outlined plans for nearly $8 trillion in new federal spending over the coming decade, and $3 trillion or more in new taxes. Think LBJ (or maybe Hubert Humphrey, if he had won in 1968), not Bill Clinton.
Earlier this year, Biden’s mission was to dispatch competitors from the activist wing of the party, most especially Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. He did so by hammering the $30 trillion price tag of Medicare for All, the middle-class tax hikes it would necessitate, and the elimination of private insurance it would require. When his opponents offered unpersuasive rejoinders, Biden’s eventual victory was assured.A pivot to a more expansive platform was inevitable after the primaries to sharpen the contrast with President Trump. Two factors are pushing Biden to make new federal programs and spending an even more prominent focus in the general election.
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