Normally, at this stage of the campaign, we would be engaged in a tolerably rational debate about policy–how to improve the economy, reform our health care system, etc. That simply isn’t happening. Why?
Part of it is due to the overwhelming importance of the pandemic, of course, but it is also caused by the interests and personalities of the candidates. Trump has no policy ideas; he is running purely to disrupt the system for four more years in the ostensible interest of “real Americans.” He portrays himself as a real life Batman protecting Gotham City from evil outsiders (Chinese; Mexicans) and left-wing looters and rioters. There is no vision of a better America here; the message is to hang on to what little we still have. Biden, for his part, has lots of ideas, but he has no incentive to discuss them, because he wants the election to be purely a referendum on Trump. The more he talks about policy, the more he exposes himself to criticism; why not just let Trump hang himself, instead?
The Biden plan is working. Don’t expect any major changes in the formula between now and November.