Paul Begala: I’m a Biden Supporter, and I Slept Like a Baby Last Night, I Woke Up Every Two Hours and Wet the Bed

BERMAN: “How much Democratic bed-wetting do you think there will be — and I bring up the term, everyone laughs. It’s a term that is used — “
AVLON: “It’s a political term of art, John.”
BERMAN: “It is used in Democratic, big ‘D,’ politics, it’s what people say about Democrats. I’m not saying it’s offensive to Paul’s young, delicate ears. So how much of that will there be? And if you are the White House, how do you assuage said bed-wetting?”
BEGALA: “Oh yeah. Look, I’m a Biden supporter, and I slept like a baby last night. I woke up every two hours crying and wet the bed. This is terrible for Democrats. And anybody with a functioning brain knows that. But here’s what you do. Instead of calling a press conference and saying, ‘I really am sharp,’ you attack the other guy. You know, Joe Biden gave the strategy in 2012. I remember, he was vice president and he said, ‘Don’t compare us to the Almighty, compare us to the alternative.’ So everything with Biden has to be not ‘I’m great,’ but, ‘The other guy is really damaging, dangerous, a threat.’ John is exactly right, this is going to be a really rough, ugly, unpleasant campaign. Look at years ago, David Duke, the former Klansman, was running for governor, against Edwin Edwards, who has been charged, indicted, convicted of any number of criminals (sic). Edwin won the campaign with a bumper sticker that said ‘Vote for the crook. It’s important.’ They have to tell Democrats, ‘Vote for the old guy. Support the old guy. It’s important.’”
BERMAN: “So you think they blew it last night? Just to be clear, you think last night was a mistake to have him out there?”
BEGALA: “No, I want to see more of Joe Biden, and the gaffes are built in. But instead of simply saying, ‘I’m okay,’ he just simply — he needs to be on the attack 24/7 for the next 269 days.”
BERMAN: “Uplifting. Uplifting message from Paul right there.”