By Richard Lee

In one of the most famous lines from Bob Dylan’s “It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding),” he reminds us that “…even the president of the United States sometimes must have to stand naked.”

Dylan’s lyrics, like all great art, are subject to interpretation, but these words generally have been taken to mean that even the most powerful people are subject to circumstances beyond their control – and this is exactly what happened to President Joe Biden Friday.

Biden’s campaign had scheduled a carefully-orchestrated kickoff event for Saturday, Jan. 6, near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.

The location, the place where George Washington and the Continental Army spent the winter of 1777-78 during the Revolutionary War, was ideal for a speech on the importance of democracy.

The date chosen for the event also was significant – the anniversary of the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection that threatened the core of American democracy.

But as the saying goes, “The best laid plans…”

First, an impending winter storm forced the campaign to move the event up to Friday afternoon, losing the historical significance of the Jan. 6 date.

The change also meant the kickoff would take place on a Friday afternoon, a time generally considered a black hole for news. To make headlines on a Friday afternoon, it takes breaking news. Unfortunately for the Biden campaign, that’s what happened when the U.S. Supreme Court announced it will review the Colorado Supreme Court’s decision to remove former President Donald Trump from that state’s election ballot.

So the Biden speech did not drive the conversation. Instead, it was the high court’s decision that dominated the discussion on social media and the cable networks. The winter storm and the latest revelations from the Jeffrey Epstein documents also topped the headlines.

But perhaps there is a greater lesson here. The Biden campaign is banking on protecting democracy as a means to attract voters. That message failed to drive the news cycle Friday.

Yes, there were extenuating circumstances, and it was just a one-time occurrence, so it is much too early to shift strategy. But in political campaigns, it never is too early to reflect on developments – good and bad – and integrate them into the decision-making process.

Richard Lee, executive director of the Jandoli Institute, is a professor in the Jandoli School of Communication at St. Bonaventure University. He covered politics and government as a reporter and later served as Deputy Director of Communication for two New Jersey governors.

Categories: Jandoli Institute, Media, Politics, Richard Lee