As I wrote on yesterday, Joe Biden made his first major gaffe of the 2020 campaign and it was a pretty big deal.

It managed to wrap up several key negatives for Biden in one single, ill-advised rant. Not only did he appear to tacitly praise segregationists as being “civil,” he did so while attacking the far left of his own party. In the end, he pleases no-one. Not the Biden friendly minority voters who supported Obama nor the radicals who are more apt to support Sanders or Warren.

Sen. Cory Booker, who’s 2020 campaign has never really taken flight, has decided to try to capitalize on this by going hard at Biden for the remarks.

2020 Watch-NEW: @CoryBooker calls on @JoeBiden to apologize – “Vice President Biden’s relationships with proud segregationists are not the model for how we make America a safer and more inclusive place for black people, and for everyone." #2020election #JoeBiden #CoryBooker pic.twitter.com/LOAAFWWv9L

— Paul Steinhauser (@steinhauserNH1) June 19, 2019

Others, including Kamala Harris and Elizabeth Warren also hit him in statements to the press.

In response, Biden doubled down, suggesting that it’s actually Booker who should apologize.

Outside a fundraiser in Chevy Chase, Maryland, I asked @JoeBiden if he should apologize for his comments. He said “apologize for what?”, adding “Cory should apologize,” referring to criticism today from rival Cory Booker.

— Caroline Kenny (@carolinerkenny) June 20, 2019

Inject this directly into my veins.

Not to be outdone, Booker then ran to Don Lemon’s show on CNN, which is basically a venue for anyone who wants to accuse someone else of racism. That’s Lemon’s entire shtick.

Vice President Joe Biden told me I should know better. As a Black man in America, here's what I know: pic.twitter.com/MbbrVbi3BJ

— Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) June 20, 2019

Even more hilariously, some Democrats are now hitting Biden for using the phrase “racist bone,” asserting that Biden saying he’s not a racist actually makes him a racist. I didn’t say it had to make sense.

Perhaps @JoeBiden should read up on the considerably racist history of the “racist bone” defense before he cites it again as supposed evidence of his lack of racism. https://t.co/dDYujNniHd

— Jamil Smith (@JamilSmith) June 20, 2019

Biden is starting to take fire from all sides and nothing I’ve seen from him says to me that he has the physical, nor political stamina to absorb the barrage.

As I’ve said a few times this week, these attacks from fellow Democrat primary opponents are a preview of next week’s debate. Whether it’s him not being far-left enough or these latest comments speaking well of segregationists, he’s going to be hit and hit hard.

Now, if he were as smart as Donald Trump when it comes to handling your opponents, Biden would just hit back and own the criticism. He’s not though so he won’t. He’ll instead continue to try to kowtow to the left while desperately clinging to his moderate appeal at the same time. It won’t work and it’s going to come crashing down.

In the voice of George Constanza from Seinfeld, “A Biden divided against itself…can not stand.”

I’ve got a new twitter! Please help by following @bonchieredstate.