After several days in South Carolina watching Biden and Bernie, a few observations: 1/8
1) Not much talk about coronavirus. At Bernie rally in Columbia I asked a bunch of people about it. Some said they're young, have strong immune systems, no problem. Among others, nobody personally worried. Not big issue on stump. 2/8
2) Strange cultural juxtapositions. At Bernie rally, rappers Blackillac were followed by Simon & Garfunkel 'America.' As it turned out, the Blackillac-Simon & Garfunkel coalition just wasn't big enough. 3/8
3) More cultural differences. Biden victory rally began with invocation. Not a Sanders thing. Biden rallies also featured Pledge of Allegiance. Not a Sanders thing. Biden approach worked better here. 4/8
4) Mostly-white Biden rallies. Despite massive support at polls, Biden events did not have big black attendance. Even victory night in Columbia. 'Don't be fooled' by absence, one black voter noted. They're watching. Indeed they were. 5/8
5) Biden's lost step. He's clearly slower, less sharp than years past. Still: One day, Wednesday, after debate, he did two morning events, then rally in Georgetown, interviews, then back to Charleston for live one-hour CNN town hall. Fairly demanding. 6/8
6) Clyburn knew. Immediately after endorsing, Clyburn said narrow Biden win wouldn't be enough; had to be big. Could be read as either setting high bar too high or just having better sense of electorate than outsiders. Latter was true. 7/8
6) Sometimes firewalls work. Losing in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, Biden supporters kept talking firewall. Seemed doubtful as losses mounted; sometimes firewalls don't work. But this one did. 8/8 End. washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/column…
