Is Biden's Victory a Landslide? Debunking Misconceptions and Clarifying the Truth

The 2020 US presidential election has left many wondering whether President-Elect Joe Biden's win can be considered a landside victory. While Biden won 306 electoral votes and over 7 million more votes in the popular vote than President Donald Trump, some argue that his victory did not meet the criteria for being deemed a landslide. Let's delve deeper into this debate to understand the nuances of the election.

Typical Landslide Defininitions

Historically, a landslide victory is often defined as one in which the margin of voter support for the winning candidate is especially large, usually involving a significant number of electoral votes and popular votes. In the past, landslide victories have been distinguished by clear winners who gain a substantially larger number of votes and electoral votes compared to their opponents. A few notable examples include Ronald Reagan's 1984 victory, where he won by a comfortable margin with 525 electoral votes, and Richard Nixon's 1972 victory with 520 electoral votes.

Does Biden's Victory Meet the Criteria for a Landslide?

While Biden did secure a solid victory, winning 306 electoral votes and capturing a significant lead in the popular vote, it falls short of what many would consider a true landslide. For instance, Reagan's victory in 1984 was clear and overwhelming, securing nearly 300 more electoral votes and a more dominant popular vote. Similarly, Nixon's 1972 victory was remarkable, securing an even larger margin of electoral votes compared to Reagan's 1984.

Comparing Biden's Victory to Historical Landslides

When examining the electoral votes, we find that Biden's win of 306 electoral votes is virtually the same as Trump's victory in 2016. In both years, the margin was approximately 72 electoral votes. For a true landslide, this number would be considerably larger. In 2016, Trump won with 306 electoral votes, just over 72 more than the winning candidate from 2012, which suggests a relatively close result. Similarly, in 2020, Biden's 306 electoral votes didn't significantly exceed Trump's 2016 margin.

The Popular Vote Margin

While Biden's victory in the popular vote was more substantial, winning by over 7 million votes, this margin still doesn't meet the criteria for a landslide. To be considered a landslide, the difference in the popular vote should be much larger, typically a margin of over 10 million votes. For instance, in 1964, Lyndon B. Johnson's victory over Barry Goldwater was a landslide by popular vote with more than 13 million votes.

Reagan and Mondale Analogy

To further illustrate the point, let's consider a hypothetical scenario where all these states switched their allegiance (California, New York, Texas, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Ohio, and Florida) from Biden to Mondale, leaving Reagan as the winner. Reagan would still have won by a substantial margin, as he would have secured 320 electoral votes, only 12 fewer than in 1984. This demonstrates that such a switch would not dramatically change the outcome, indicating that the margin was not large enough to be considered a landslide.

Trump's Narrative and Biden's Victory

It's also important to note the narrative crafted by the Trump campaign. In 2016, Trump claimed his victory was a landslide despite losing the popular vote. In 2020, Biden’s total of nearly 7 million more votes in the popular vote should prompt a reassessment of what constitutes a landslide. While Biden won the popular vote by a large margin, the electoral vote tally was very close to Trump's, emphasizing that the margin of victory wasn't substantial enough to be considered a landslide in the traditional sense.

Conclusion: Biden’s Victory in Context

In conclusion, while Biden's victory was significant and won with a healthy margin, it did not meet the traditional criteria for a landsTide victory. The electoral vote tally was similar to Trump's 2016 win, and even with a larger margin in the popular vote, the difference doesn't sufficiently warrant the term landslide. However, Biden's clean win in the electoral college and popular vote is a testament to a clear victory, albeit not a landslide by historical standards.