General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThe definitive ranking of 2020 Democrats
10. Sherrod Brown: How do you beat a populist like Trump who triumphed in Midwest? You could nominate a Midwestern populist like this senior senator from Ohio. Brown's liberal record matched with a gravelly voice that seems almost out of central casting could be the ticket for Democrats. Brown, though, has said he has no interest in running (and he's up for re-election to the Senate this fall). At the same time, it's somewhat hard to imagine Democrats nominating a white senator. Especially one with some question marks in his personal history.
9. Mitch Landrieu: If Democrats want an outsider with experience, then there are few people better than this two-term mayor of New Orleans who has never held federal office. As mayor, he removed Confederate monuments. Being mayor of a majority black city in a party that has a substantial black voting bloc and is becoming more urban could also pay off big. Yet, even with Trump in the White House, it's tough to imagine that a little-known mayor could win a major party nomination. Especially one with some potholes in his record.
8. Cory Booker: In what is shaping up to be a big field, Booker will have little difficulty generating press. He's been doing that since a documentary was made about his first run for mayor of Newark (It's a great documentary). Democrats also have a history of nominating first full-term black senators who have recently given a big Democratic National Convention speech. Want to know why Booker isn't higher? Google "Cory Booker" and "neo-liberal." Booker may have a major issue with the left intelligentsia due to his ties to Wall Street.
7. Steve Bullock: Bullock, if you don't know, is the two-term governor of Montana. That's a big part of Bullock's challenge; if he runs he will take on a whole bunch of candidates who are already known nationally. He is, well, not. But the party's growth in the West -- and the success of governors as presidential candidates -- means that a governor from this part of the country seems likely to emerge. Bullock looks best positioned to be that guy right now. He's been traveling to early voting states to lay the groundwork and refine a message about why -- and how -- Democrats need to expand their tent.
6. Eric Holder: The name of the former attorney general was on almost no one's lists at the start of 2018. But he's made clear in both his travel and his rhetoric of late that he is seriously open to running for president. In June, Holder acknowledged that running for president in 2020 is ""something that I'm considering." And he's already got a schtick against Trump; "Two guys from Queens," Holder said. "That would be interesting. New Yorkers know how to talk to other New Yorkers." Holder would likely be seen as former President Barack Obama's favorite in the race given the duo's long friendship. Presumably that is a good thing in the context of a Democratic primary.
5. Bernie Sanders: Sanders is one of the most beloved politicians within the Democratic Party (even though he's not technically a Democrat), with strong favorable ratings. He's a proven vote-getter in presidential primaries (earning 43% of the 2016 Democratic primary vote). And in a party that is shifting left, Sanders was left before it was cool. So why is Sanders not higher? He's a white male, and Democrats may be looking to turn the page from 2016. Do Democrats really want another primary in which they have to argue about whether one of the major candidates is actually a Democrat or an independent?
4. Kirsten Gillibrand: There may be no more predictive qualities in Democratic primaries in 2018 than being anti-Trump and being a woman. Gillibrand has both of those qualities. She's voted less with Trump than any other senator. Being from New York will also give a megaphone (see Trump, Donald). Why isn't she higher? Besides the fact that there are other women running, she may have an authenticity problem when that quality seems to be at a premium. Although she is liberal now when it is politically expedient, she was a moderate member of the House.
3. Kamala Harris: If Democrats are looking to draw a very sharp contrast with Trump, Harris makes the most sense. The first-term California senator was the first black and first Indian woman elected to the Senate from the Golden State. She comes from a law and order background; she was attorney general of California before running for the Senate. And she's from a massive Democratic donor state -- meaning the money would be there for her if she did decide to run. As to that: Harris' mind seems pretty made up; she's writing a memoir set to publish in 2019, which is a sort of necessary move for someone running for president.
2. Elizabeth Warren: Unlike 2016, when the Massachusetts senator was doing nothing to indicate she might run, Warren is making a series of moves that suggest she is a likely entrant in 2020. Warren has already reached out to politicians in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, according to The New York Times. If Democrats are looking for some sort of compromise candidate between the establishment and the party base, Warren could fit the bill somewhat nicely. Republicans repeatedly insist she is their ideal general election candidate against Trump, believing that Warren is simply too liberal to possibly win nationally.
1. Joe Biden: The former vice president may not seem like the perfect fit for this moment in the Democratic Party -- he's older (75), white, male, and has been in electoral politics for more than four decades. And yet, Biden has something that no other candidate in the field has. First, he's on top of early polls gauging the 2020 field. He's leading in national polls, early primary state polls and in a matchup against Trump. That's no guarantee Biden wins the nomination -- but if history holds, it's an indicator he'll be right there until the end.
https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/19/politics/2020-democrats-rankings/index.html
ArcanaSphere
(4 posts)I don't like any of them. They have all been lacking ACTION!! Trump is already rallying for himself for 2020 and we have nothing but talk from these choices. There are protests going on in America and these individuals are not there and not speaking up.
Maxine Waters & Michael Avenatti are speaking up, and both of them have plenty of experience in politics and our constitutional laws to be the ones who DESTROY Trump. They are protesting with us and are Patriots who care about ALL Americans. Just my opinion, though.
NewJeffCT
(56,827 posts)Maxine Waters is going to be 80 in a month.
What political experience does Avenatti have? I like that he can get the needed media attention, but I'm not sure he's the right candidate. Plus, he was divorced last year - would that be an issue if it was not amicable?
ArcanaSphere
(4 posts)This is WAY more than 45 has and he is supposed to be our president right now.
[link:http://avenatti.com/bio/|
"Michael graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia with a major in Political Science. He subsequently attended law school at George Washington University, where he had the benefit of working closely with Professor Johnathan Turley on constitutional issues relating to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). Michael later graduated Order of the Coif, first in his class.
"In 2003, the law school honored Michael by establishing the Michael J. Avenatti Award for Excellence in Pre-Trial and Trial Advocacy, an annual award given to the member of the graduating Juris Doctor class who demonstrates excellence in pre-trial and trial advocacy. And in 2010, George Washington University recognized Michael by awarding him with an Alumni Achievement Award, the highest form of recognition given by the University, which was founded in 1821."]
Just a little google search and you would have found this on Wikipedia or on his own page. I am sure you can find more information about him later.
So, as I stated in my previous post, Michael and Maxine both have plenty of experience in politics and constitutional law.
And, so what if Maxine is 80, Biden ain't young either. She looks younger than Biden and behaves like a FIGHTER like Avenatti does.
lark
(23,003 posts)However, Joe Kennedy and Adam Schiff weren't on the list andI think both would be strong candidates. Harris was my top choice before she sadly shot herself in th foot with a rush to judgement without getting the facts on Franken.
NewJeffCT
(56,827 posts)but, he is too cerebral/intellectual to take on Trump - I'm afraid he'd be like John Kerry, Al Gore or Mike Dukakis. Smart, but boring. He or Ted Lieu might make a great attorney general.
I like the Kennedy name, but his voting record has been among the more conservative among House Democrats. If Hillary got bashed as too conservative for being only more liberal than the average Senator, how would somebody well to the right of her do in a primary?
NewJeffCT
(56,827 posts)And yet, Biden has something that no other candidate in the field has. First, he's on top of early polls gauging the 2020 field. He's leading in national polls, early primary state polls and in a matchup against Trump. That's no guarantee Biden wins the nomination -- but if history holds, it's an indicator he'll be right there until the end.
There is a first above (my highlight), but no "second" or "additionally" or anything like that. The first talks about him leading the polls, but that's all I see.
How does that put him on top? Being on top of the polls this early doesn't even mean anything. This whole analysis is pretty weak.
GoCubsGo
(32,061 posts)I don't give a shit about 2020. We have far more important things to worry about right now, including the 2018 elections. The way things are going right now, there isn't even going to be a 2020 election. Trashing this tread.
NewJeffCT
(56,827 posts)were the analysts