The Atlantic

One Big Difference Between Biden and Every Other Recent Democratic Nominee

The former vice president wants to win on a backward-looking platform.
Source: Scott Morgan / Reuters

When critics say that Joe Biden isn’t progressive enough, they’re mostly referring to his record and positions on policy. But the former vice president’s messaging is literally backward-looking. Biden is running a campaign of restoration—returning the United States to its rightful place before (as he sees it) the current president came onto the scene and trashed the joint.

“If we give Donald Trump eight years in the White House, he will forever and fundamentally alter the character of this nation,” Biden warned in his announcement video.

It’s not just that Biden’s message over the first few days of his campaign has been aimed straight at

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