Is FOBO Paralyzing the Democratic Primary?

[JoeOtterbein]

Politico

01/26/2020 07:00 AM EST

Iowa voters have a problem: They can’t make up their minds.

Less than two weeks before the Iowa caucuses, there is still no breakout candidate in the Democratic primary. Instead, there are four frontrunners—Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders and Pete Buttigieg—none of whom poll over 25 percent in the state. Iowans, who are notoriously fickle to begin with, are outdoing themselves this year. Just 40 percent of voters have made up their minds on a candidate. Compare that to 2016, when nearly 60 percent had already made a definitive choice at this point in the race.

Even the New York Times can’t commit. Over the weekend, America’s paper of record proved itself incapable of endorsing just one candidate in the Democratic primary. Instead, it endorsed two. If the Gray Lady can’t make a decision ahead of 2020, how will voters?

What is happening here? It’s simple: The Democrats have FOBO, or Fear of a Better Option.

Haven’t heard of FOBO? Let me tell you where it comes from.

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the answer and more at link

[Sherman A1]

1. This is more of the "Horse Race" narrative

"Is this happening?" "Is that happening?" "Will voters do X if it is cloudy?" "Will voters do Y if the candidate eats BBQ for lunch?"


Rinse, Repeat, Rinse, Repeat.......

[Hoyt]

2. It's more, "Really like Sanders' and Warren's proposals, but it's likely a landslide for GOPers."

Hope Iowans make the right decision for our future.

[left-of-center2012]

3. Maybe Iowa will come together for Biden

If they can't make up their minds,
they'll go with the candidate they know and trust --> Joe Biden.

In my humble opinion.

[relayerbob]

4. Nah

We have a field of highly qualified candidates, none of whom stand out clearly above the competition. I don't see how that's a bad thing. This "FOBO" thing is baloney, the options are in front of us, and anyone with half a brain votes for whoever wins in the end. Despite all the smoke, mirrors and campaign nonsense, these candidates are all far closer to one another in action and spirit, than the GOP is to them.

Politico has nothing else to write about in the Democratic Pres. race right now, so they go concern trolling. Don't buy into it, stay focused!