Naomi Lim of the Washington Examiner reports on the impact for Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden of the incessant chatter surrounding presidential impeachment.
Joe Biden’s pitch to voters about his strong working relationship with congressional Republicans, should he be elected to the White House, has taken a hit as House Democrats proceed with their impeachment inquiry of President Trump.
On the campaign trail, Biden touts his record of collaborating with GOP colleagues during his 36-year tenure representing Delaware in the Senate, as well as his efforts shepherding President Barack Obama’s legislative agenda on Capitol Hill.
“I know to make government work,” Biden said at his 2020 bid’s May “kickoff” event in Philadelphia. “Not because I’ve talked or tweeted about it, but because I’ve done it. I’ve worked across the aisle to reach consensus to help make government work in the past. I can do that again, with your help.”
But as House Democrats investigate accusations Trump improperly leveraged military aid to pressure Ukraine into digging up dirt on Joe Biden and his son Hunter, among other claims involving the Biden family, the top-tier presidential candidate has found himself in the middle of one of Congress’ most highly partisan processes: impeachment.
Darrell West, Brookings Institution’s Governance Studies vice president and Center for Technology Innovation director, said Biden’s argument may soon become untenable.
“Each side feels the other has crossed the line and that poisons the atmosphere for the parties to work together. Turning the clock back to a time when the parties cooperated is not where many Democrats are right now,” West told the Washington Examiner via email.
