Democratic Party Presidential Candidates for 2020

[Pamela]

I don’t feel I really have the luxury of going through the exercise of supporting someone based on policy. Or sex. Or color. I have been and like picking favorites as tho it matters, but what ultimately matters to me is why Biden entered the race with a shot over Trumps bow, and nothing about policy — he thinks, with good reason, he has the best chance of ending this nightmare. That trumps everything else.

 

[Beebo Brink]

Biden entered the race with a shot over Trumps bow, and nothing about policy — he thinks, with good reason, he has the best chance of ending this nightmare.

Does he really? Because from where I'm sitting, it's men exactly like Biden who got us into this mess.

Don't rock the boat, keep women in their place, support corporate capitalism at all costs. The US is a hollowed out shell due to the 1% gutting us financially. "More of the same" is why so many people are turned off politics, don't bother to show up to vote or flock to a disrupter like Trump.

Depending on a man like Biden to save us is almost like admitting defeat. He has little awareness or urgency over the income disparities that have undermined our democracy. If he wins, we get some superficial patchwork over the worst of Trump's damage, but we'll continue our spiral downward. The next populist candidate that comes along may be smarter and more efficient than Trump at sweeping away our democratic institutions.

 

[Pamela]

Does he really? Because from where I'm sitting, it's men exactly like Biden who got us into this mess.

Don't rock the boat, keep women in their place, support corporate capitalism at all costs. The US is a hollowed out shell due to the 1% gutting us financially. "More of the same" is why so many people are turned off politics, don't bother to show up to vote or flock to a disrupter like Trump.

Depending on a man like Biden to save us is almost like admitting defeat. He has little awareness or urgency over the income disparities that have undermined our democracy. If he wins, we get some superficial patchwork over the worst of Trump's damage, but we'll continue our spiral downward. The next populist candidate that comes along may be smarter and more efficient than Trump at sweeping away our democratic institutions.

I understand — I would like to see major sweeping policy changes — but ultimately I am a one issue voter: Get Trump the fuck out. For me it’s whoever polls best against Trump, and Biden at this point seems to be it. But that could change.

 

[Aribeth Zelin]

Pamela, that's why every single candidate has entered, because they think they can fix this mess. Some of them have actual plans; with facts and figures to support them. Some have a general idea, but are a little light on facts, and some were 'born for this'. Some actually care about -us-, while others only care about their corporate overlords. And I'll be damned if I vote for a schmuck in the primaries while holding my nose.

 

[Pamela]

Pamela, that's why every single candidate has entered, because they think they can fix this mess. Some of them have actual plans; with facts and figures to support them. Some have a general idea, but are a little light on facts, and some were 'born for this'. Some actually care about -us-, while others only care about their corporate overlords. And I'll be damned if I vote for a schmuck in the primaries while holding my nose.

I will vote for the one who polls best against Trump because Trump could very well win again. Or I should say he could lose the vote and win the Presidency. Again.

Also I think Biden is a good tho imperfect man, but I would be very happy with most of the candidates. Half of them have been my favorite at one time or another.

 

[Pamela]

Early 2020 Poll Shows Tight Race for Dems Against Trump

"We're going to see people drop out, and with that votes will shift," said Spencer Kimball, director of Emerson College Polling.

www.newsweek.com

 

[Beebo Brink]

This discussion motivated me to put my money where my mouth is. Just signed up for a recurring monthly donation to Elizabeth Warren's campaign.

 

[Kaimi Kyomoon]

In the primary I plan to vote for the candidate who's vision for the future is the closest to what I want. More of the same has brought us to the brink of losing democracy entirely. The real life monopoly game is almost over and feudalism is about to resume. Or as a nation we can wake up to how bad that is and seriously address wealth inequality and the corruption that goes with it. Right now it seems to me that it could go either way. And there are not very fine people on both sides.

 

[Pamela]

My biggest donation so far has been to Warren, after her announcement, but I have sent some to others. There are several outstanding candidates I would be happy with.

But given Russian and other meddling, voter suppression, and the Electoral College, Dems have to not just win but win by a substantial margin. (Most everyone thought Hillary’s numbers would be good enough but no.)

My primary vote will go to whoever polls best against the monster, unless there are several whose polls show they can beat him — only then would policy positions affect my vote. . Impeachment hearings could sink Trumps chances, we shall see.

 

[Aribeth Zelin]

Trump isn't the problem, he's really just a symptom. While defeating him is important, we need to fix the underlying problem.

 

[Pamela]

Trump isn't the problem, he's really just a symptom. While defeating him is important, we need to fix the underlying problem.

You have to defeat him in order to fix the underlying problem. Even winning the Senate is not going to do it.

And most voters agree, thank God:

Eyes on the prize: In poll, Democrats care more about victory than ideology in 2020 nominee

In poll, Democrats are more interested in a nominee who can defeat President Trump than one they agree with most on the issues.

www.usatoday.com

 

[Pamela]

 

[Kaimi Kyomoon]

OMG he's going to win again!

 

[Clara D.]

How do y'all feel about a Buttigeg/Harris ticket?

Buttigeg may be gay, but he's white, male, and ex-military, so possibly more palatable to the "average voter."

TBH, I'll be voting "whichever Democrat," but I'd like to see whoever stands the best chance vs. Trump, which IMHO means whoever has the widest appeal. The two current "top runners" according to pollsters -- Bernie: old and maybe too whacky for some. Biden: sexual-harrassment stuff isn't a good start for wide appeal.

 

[Pamela]

OMG he's going to win again!

Some say it’s likely,:

Trump Should Have a 70 Percent Chance of Winning in 2020

We’ve analyzed more than 500 elections. Here’s what should happen next.

www.thedailybeast.com

Bloomberg - Are you a robot?

 

[Pamela]

How do y'all feel about a Buttigeg/Harris ticket?

Good, I like them both a lot. I would vote for them, if polls showed they had the best chance of picking up independents and beating the horror show we have now.

 

[Pamela]

In the primary I plan to vote for the candidate who's vision for the future is the closest to what I want. More of the same has brought us to the brink of losing democracy entirely..

Another way to look at it is that in 2016 the good became the enemy of the perfect, so to speak. A lot of Bernie supporters refused to vote for Hillary in protest. By a lot I mean enough to throw the election to a monster.

That could happen again, if people vote for their most ideal candidate rather than the one polling best against Trump. Not that that’s any guarantee.

 

[Clara D.]

That's why I'm trying to figure out who has the "broadest appeal" -- D's can't afford to be split down the middle again.

 

[Anya Ristow]

Biden's gaffs are less well known than his vice presidency. That will change. The opposition research writes itself. He's got nowhere to go but down.

 

[GoblinCampFollower]

Biden's gaffs are less well known than his vice presidency. That will change. The opposition research writes itself. He's got nowhere to go but down.

RIGHT!

I can understand wanting to take electability into account, but I really don't even think Biden is that electable. He just has a lot of name recognition. He has a very strong tendency to make a fool of himself. Nominating him would also take a lot of moral authority away from democrats on #metoo type issues. And nobody really likes him that much. I think everyone who supports him only does so because they think he's electable. That's a bad motivator for campaigning.

As crazy as it is, Trump's people really love him. Democrats won't compete with that unless we find someone we actually can be energetic about. I thin I'd be less energetic supporting Biden than most others on the field.