Every election year, Republicans come up with their own blueprint for victory – be it a strong ground game, an increase in turnout among key voter groups or expensive messaging campaigns designed to sway the electorate. However, the 2020 presidential election proved that there’s much more to Joe Biden’s victory than these conventional tactics. Understanding what Biden did that his opponents didn’t is essential to knowing how he won.
The first way that Biden was superior to President Trump in this election was his ability to adapt to the changing political climate. Both Trump and Biden knew they were running in a divided America, one filled with apprehensive and conflicted voters. To satisfy those voters, Biden pivoted to an agenda that, while strongly progressive, still appealed to more moderate Democrats.
At the same time, Biden also made sure he addressed the issues he felt mattered to his core supporters. He spoke about protecting the Affordable Care Act, combating climate change, and supporting a fairer top tax rate for the wealthy. His campaign cohesively tied the party’s core beliefs together into an ideologically focused message.
Furthermore, Biden also understood the importance of targeting and connecting with the voters he needed to win. He and his team continually sought out people’s stories and urged voters to make their voices heard. Biden never stopped making appearances around the country, placing grassroots campaigning at the forefront of his strategy.
Finally, Biden effectively touched on cultural issues. He emphasized the importance of inclusion and representation when he selected Senator Kamala Harris as his running mate. He also pledged to prioritize criminal justice reform and immigration — two issues that are especially important to minority voters.
What separates Biden’s victory from other prominent Democratic presidential wins is that he put in the extra effort on top of smart and effective tactics. Republicans may not understand it, but Biden’s win was carefully cultivated by years of hard work and a dedicated campaign team. Biden was able to come out on top in a divided America by capitalizing on the core values of the Democratic Party and using his strong ground game to make personal connections with voters. He was one step ahead of the game and it paid off.