“So much of his argument has been about the past, and elections really are about the future”

Shrum and Hagle suggested that Biden has focused too much on the past instead of promoting his vision for the future.

Poor debate performances also left doubt in voters’ minds about his strength as a candidate, they said.

“So much of his argument has been about the past, and elections really are about the future,” Shrum said.

“Al Gore had a line that elections are not a reward for past performance, and I think that’s largely true.”

Hagle said Biden also had a terrible ground game in New Hampshire and Iowa, where his team couldn’t decide how much to commit to the lily-white states.

“I’m not sure how hard he was working in New Hampshire. I got the impression he was working harder in Iowa … He was at least trying,” Hagle said.