Just made the switch to Biden

[CalFione]

The non-Bernie majority in the Democratic Party needs to quickly consolidate behind one candidate.

Today’s results, along with the likely results next Saturday, make it clear that the strongest non-Bernie candidate is Joe Biden.

Biden will win SC, and go into Super Tuesday second in delegates (Pete will get shut out in NV and SC).

Biden is also the strongest candidate in the half dozen southern states going on Super Tuesday.

This doesn’t mean the others should necessarily drop out before Super Tuesday. Liz can take Massachusetts and a strong second in California to limit Bernie’s delegates there. Amy can take Minnesota and potentially shut Bernie out there. There aren’t many upcoming states where Pete looks strong - the electorates are too diverse in most of them for Pete.

A key would be someone providing the kill shot to Bloomberg’s campaign at Tuesday’s debate. Any support he grabs on Super Tuesday will mostly come from Biden. Bloomberg needs to swallow his ego and simply run anti Trump ads for the next 8 months, but get out of the race.


Go Joe.

[MontanaFarmer]

1. Been with Amy, but I'm making it too.

I'll send him a little $$ as well.

[DemocracyMouse]

9. I'm sending money to the man who just said in the debates;

"Bloomberg's concentration of wealth is immoral when there are thousands of homeless vets sleeping on the streets." (Paraphrasing)

That would be Bernie Sanders. More Americans choose him over Donald J. Trump (by double digits), so he's the most electable candidate by far.

All this shooting our best candidate down is irrational and, frankly, just territorial chest pounding. Given both the polls and the recent elections we should be cheering Bernie on. All those swing voters like him more than the establishment Democrats precisely BECAUSE swing voters are anti-establishment themselves.

[NYMinute]

37. P. T. Barnum

[ucrdem]

56. Seriously.

[HarlanPepper]

44. So you're not really a Warren supporter.

What a shock.

[erlewyne]

46. I am reading between the lines (your lines) DemocracyMouse

and want to say thank you.

Do Americans (DU) wonder why Bernie is so popular? He must have some good ideas!

By making this reply I become a Bernie backer and a Socialist (which I am neither).
I expected you to be derogatory to Bernie (who is not my favorite) by you title
"I'm sending money to the man who just said in the debates;", and was pleased
by your response.

Thank you, thank you very much!

EW

P.S. I did not listen to the debates and I do not know who the man you are talking about
is but I will figure it out. I love your remark, All this shooting our best candidate down is irrational and, frankly, just territorial chest pounding. Given both the polls and the recent elections we should be cheering Bernie on. All those swing voters like him more than the establishment Democrats precisely BECAUSE swing voters are anti-establishment themselves.

You have a way with words that I lack.

[MontanaFarmer]

49. I won't argue the point with you.

I'm glad you contributed to someone you believe in. I don't believe in Bernie. I like some but not all of his policies, but i think he and his campaign team aren't interested in anything but tearing people down. That "democratic establishment" he's sniping at is many things. Sure, it's third way, CAP, etc but it's also about 85% of the elected officials with a D by their name, whom he'll need but don't like being disparaged. It's also the party many here have helped build with time, money, and opinion. So you're correct, if a person who proclaims to dislike that party, and refuses to join it in fact, wants to take that party over, there will be plenty of people who aren't happy and will do everything they can to avoid that outcome. That's especially true when that outcome has the potential to lead to complete electoral Chernobyl for us.

[Squinch]

52. Bloombergs concentration of wealth is immoral but Bernie's millions and estates aren't?

There's a word for that.

[brutus smith]

55. Why do you hate Bernie so much? I like all the candidates.

[Squinch]

86. Thank you! I've self deleted to be safe. Shame it is necessary when speaking the truth.

[Squinch]

59. But going back to the original question, why is Bloomberg's wealth immoral, but BS's is not?

As I said, there's a word for that.

[brutus smith]

61. You're comparing Bernie's wealth to Bloomberg's?

[Squinch]

63. So a few million and a few estates are fine but beyond that it's immoral?

Bernie's millions and the values of his estates wouldn't make any difference to those homeless people he referenced?

[apcalc]

77. Ah, but don't you see? What's good for thee is not good for me.

[Squinch]

79. Hopefully BS will let us know at what level obscene wealth becomes immoral.

I know I'm all on tenterhooks waiting.

[apcalc]

54. Me too. Sending a couple bucks Amy's way so she stays in until Minnesota .

[rwheeler31]

2. Thank you

Is there any message we can get out to California Democrats to do the same. Maybe we could convince Bloomberg to prop up the Biden campaign so he could quickly gain some steam.

[DemocracyMouse]

14. California just endured their worst environmental ordeal in their history (massive fires 🔥).

...So the message you should send to them is: "We finally realize that the man who has been loudly pitching a Green New Deal is the one most likely to take your plight seriously. We're ready to shift gears and support Bernie Sanders. Polls show he is also the most likely to beat Donald Trump —by double digits. Biden, as it turns out, didn't wow the public and we're sorry for assuming an establishment insider is what Americans wanted. (It turns out it's only what some folks in the establishment wanted). We'll adjust. It will be OK. Bernie, after all, represents TRADITIONAL Democratic New Deal values."

[Woodycall]

22. New Deal values...

"They had begun to consider the Government of the United States as a mere appendage to their own affairs. We know now that Government by organized money is just as dangerous as Government by organized mob.

Never before in all our history have these forces been so united against one candidate as they stand today. They are unanimous in their hate for me--and I welcome their hatred."

~FDR

[DemocracyMouse]

33. Fantastic quote!

[Woodycall]

41. The full text is even better...

http://docs.fdrlibrary.marist.edu/od2ndst.html

[Squinch]

67. Bernie is no FDR.

[emmaverybo]

34. It has not turned out yet. Premature crowning.

[Squinch]

66. "Pitching the green new deal." AS ALWAYS "calling for" but not actually DOING anything.

Meanwhile the candidate with a record of practical, effective climate achievements as long as your arm - actual policies enacted and producing results - is everybody's favorite hate object.

[blue-wave]

3. Welcome!

Nice To Be With You!!

[emmaverybo]

35. +1 and Thanks for the music!

[still_one]

4. While i agree with you, unfortunately Bloomberg is going to make it very

difficult for the non-Bernie majority

I hate to say this but i think Bloomberg has essentially made Bernie the nominee

[DemocracyMouse]

17. Yes, Bloomberg who after all is a Republican in Dem clothing...

Is clarifying all that is wrong in America — the rise of an oligarchy. The pro-Sanders majority (with many of Warren's supporters shifting to Sanders) are seeing through Bloomberg, how far to the right the Dems have shifted. Suddenly Bernie seems like the right man to address the elephant in the room: people like Bloomberg and corporate money.

[still_one]

50. I think if Bernie is the nominee, which is the direction it appears to be heading, the stuff that

will be coming out on Bernies past and present I don't think is going to resonate well in a general election

[emmaverybo]

43. Yes. And one would think he would be aware of the political dynamics.

[still_one]

51. Perhaps the next debate will clarify things, and point out the liability that a Sanders nomination

would present itself in a general election, and wake people up to the political dynamics you are alluding to

[Squinch]

62. Bloomberg is to blame but not Amy? I like both of them but if you're going to blame one you have to

blame both. And probably throw Pete and Steyer into the blame pot too.

On the other hand, maybe Joe could rev up his campaign from its current low gear and actually earn some votes from those candidates. I'll probably end up voting for him, but I am quite pissed at him for his lackluster campaign.

[still_one]

68. I disagree. Bloomberg has unlimited resources that the other non-Bernie block candidates do not

have. It isn't rocket science that Biden was competitive until Bloomberg entered the race, and significantly cut his poll numbers down.

Steyer is also an issue to a lesser degree, but I believe is hurting Warren more than Biden, but in South Carolina, he is adding significant fragmentation.

I believe the strategy of Bloomberg is that he is hoping for an open Convention.

The problem with that strategy is that open Conventions is a big gamble to a unified party

I think the Democratic party is between a rock and a hard place. It looks like either Bernie is heading for the nomination, which I think would be a disaster in the general election, or a contested Convention, which has its own set of problems

[Squinch]

71. That doesn't change the fact that they are all going after the same voters.

If you're going to say one has to drop out because they dilute Joe's votes, the same is true for all of them no matter when they entered the race.

[still_one]

72. Sure, but some have significantly more impact on specific candidates than others

[Squinch]

73. But I think that is only because the voters who were left in that

moderate place Joe occupies were like me: easy to pick off because we were worried that Joe's lackluster campaign wasn't getting the job done, and unconvinced that any of the other moderates were particularly electable either. We all come from the same electoral space, those of us who support Joe, Amy, Pete or Bloomberg. We only disagree on who can defeat Filthy Donnie best.

[still_one]

74. I understand the reasons. At this stage I would be happy if they unifed behind one candidate in

the non-Bernie block, but I don't think that is going to happen because I think not just Bloomberg, but all of them our banking on a contested Convention, and that in itself is a risky speculation with its own set of problems

[Squinch]

75. I would too. And I believe the logical choice is Joe. And if he would just

fight for it a little, it would make a big difference.

[still_one]

76. +++

[brush]

5. I contribute to Joe. Others may drop out but Bloomberg has endless funds.

The race should tighten up though.

[MaryMagdaline]

6. Agreed

[Cha]

7. I hope Biden wins in spite of the gop cross over votes in SC..

I don't want to jinx it.. I don't count anything until it's over.

Welcome Aboard the Biden Train.. may it continue gaining Steam!

Link to tweet

[Bucky]

8. Interesting progression there. Every vote update, Bernie inches closer to 50%

With 19% reporting, he's at 42%
With 23% reporting, he's at 46%
With 27% reporting, he's at 47%

I don't think Bernie is the bete noire that mainstream Democrats are fearing. I don't favored him as nominee, but we have to recognize he's bringing a LOT of new people into the tent. Rather than demonizing their favorite son, maybe we ought to be welcoming them with camaraderie

[wisteria]

11. He may be bringing new people in with his promises, but others are fleeing and will flee

the party if he is the nominee.

[Bucky]

15. If we were running against President Romney or President Cruz...

I would agree with you. But someone would have to be insane to think Sanders is as bad as Trump. And frankly we've already lost that voter base entirely to our Republican friends.

The biggest downside to a Sanders presidency is we'd have a president who couldn't get much of his legislative package passed.

[DemocracyMouse]

18. That legislative skills thing? According to Snopes it's a Republican meme

[Bucky]

23. Thanks, will Google that

[brutus smith]

58. If they're "fleeing" then they aren't the Democrats they profess to be.

[emmaverybo]

36. For every one he brings, another might drop out. Since his results do not show he has more support

than in 2016, you ask for a real gamble. Not only might he suppress the Dem vote, but lose never-Trumpers and independents. There’s quite a bit of never-Bernie’s and he has just begun to be vetted.

Maybe Warren will team up with him. Then the game is different.

[redstateblues]

27. Just sent him some more $!

[Cha]

30. Mahalo, redstateblues!

[wisteria]

10. Thank you. You have made a wise choice

Link to tweet

Biden is currently out performing his RCA by 8 points in Navada, whoohoo.

[DemocracyMouse]

20. I like Bernie. He's a good man. His policies are traditional Democratic

Good 'ol fashioned Democrats like Bernie. I'm talking Dems who remember what we were before we let Reagan set the agenda.

[emmaverybo]

38. I thought we should never look to the past. Main complaint about Biden looking to that far off

past less than four years ago.

[jimfields33]

70. Bernie's outperforming by 17 percent so far

Polls showed him winning Nevada at 30 percent.

[PatSeg]

12. This is good to hear

You're right, Biden is the strongest non-Bernie candidate. It is probably time to thin out the race a bit.

By the way, Amy was a strong second for me! I love both her and Warren.

[Kaleva]

13. I don't think some of your info is correct.

The latest poll I see about California is Liz being tied for 4th place with Pete. Bloomberg is very close to Biden in several of the Super Tuesday states and ahead of Biden in 4 of them. Liz is also tied with Sanders in Massachusetts so her taking her home state is not a foregone conclusion.

https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2020/president/SuperTuesday.html

[wisteria]

16. Thank you!

He is currently out performing his RCP average in Nevada by 8 points.

[oasis]

19. Joe has the coattails needed to lift down ticket Democrats.

[AirmensMom]

21. I did too.

I'll be voting soon and it's been really hard to decide. The ones I prefer aren't doing so well. Not like it will matter in TN ... they'll vote for Trump no matter who the Democratic candidate is.

[CalFione]

24. Tenn matters

If Joe wins the state, it is a good delegate chunk.

[AirmensMom]

31. I know.

That's why I'll vote in the primary. And I'll vote in the GE, but it won't matter because this state will go for Trump. I've heard SO many people say, "I don't like him personally, but ..." and when I ask what they like, they can't answer. When I mention babies in cages, they haven't heard of that. Seriously, I think my dumber-than-a-rock hound dog knows more than these people.

[DemocracyMouse]

25. Americans are sick of Trump, even the deplorables are getting weary. They see Sanders as...

... the most shiny object. But thankfully he's also a great, old fashioned Democrat (I'm talking pre-Clinton, pre-Reagan). His proposed tax rate for the wealthy, 55%, isn't even close to the 80-90% of the New Deal era. That makes Sanders still right of center. He's more practical than the Biden fans may realize. We've drifted so far right as a country most people with a narrow historical time frame can't remember what a well funded infrastructure is like.

Please get behind Sanders. He's the hammer that will crush Trump.

[redstateblues]

28. The down ballot candidates will be running as far away from Bernie as fast as they can

America is not going for a Socialist. Not happening

[AirmensMom]

32. I agree. n/t

[AirmensMom]

29. I'll get behind Sanders

if he wins the nomination. I'm in the camp that thinks he will lose our majority in the House and any chance of taking the Senate. TN is not sick of Trump. Our reps have crawled up Trumps ass and are firmly stuck there. And the people in this state put them there. I see plenty of Trump 2020 signs in my neighborhood and on cars. I could stay home for the GE and not make a bit of difference. But I want to use my voice. So I vote, knowing what a tiny insignificant blue dot I am in this hell of red.

[emmaverybo]

40. No. The vodka-swilling underpants Russian Honeymoon will put a searing image into the mind

of Americans in the very states we need. Admittedly, Bernie is a true 60‘s style firebrand, but in
a good economy, his proposals and his image will not sell outside of progressive-Ville. Not that there’s anything wrong with it.

I don’t mind that he dabbled in socialist ideas. I consider he was infatuated as many young people seeking answers to greed and injustice. I know he still is, but in a different way.

But normals-Ville voters won’t get him.

Even some of us pretty liberal folk are worried about costs and what he wants to spend on. I have student debt. Might have it until I die, but I want a targeted program of assistance and many other needs met first.

[Hamlette]

26. you convinced me to show my preference

I've always thought Biden would be best but I kept my powder dry. Now I'm so pissed at Bernie I'm planting the flag.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

39. I'm waiting for the convention.

I think we have to. No plurality will win the day without a Rip roaring speech that inspires.

[emmaverybo]

42. Please. Debates, speeches, big gotcha moments do not demonstrate a candidate's potential

qualifications for the most powerful office in the land. People, the most wrong people, can fire up others. That’s a requisite talent for demagoguery, not a presidential one.

If we have learned one thing from Trump, it ought to be the scope of power, duties, and responsibilities the presidency demands beyond personality and theatrics, and the damage incompetency alone can do.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

87. but with only a plurality, and whatever may happen between now and then

I feel Warren mist deserving and at this point competent. She also has a youthful quality that is essential. Hillary did not have that, yet won by millions.

P.s. From now on we should poll the swing states for match ups.

[emmaverybo]

98. I don't see Warren dropping out unless to form a coalition with Bernie.

[cannabis_flower]

45. Maybe Joe will win in SC unless..

1. African American supporters stop seeing him as the most electable after two poor showings and one second place finish

Or

2. Republicans in this open primary state show up and vote for some else. They are not having a Republican primary for president this year.

I've heard both of these scenarios talked about. I'm not at all so sure Joe has a lock on South Carolina, or any of the open primary states. But I guess he needs to keep telling himself and his supporters that

[booley]

47. Ok though I don' tthink it will work

I keep saying this.

If you are supporting someone because you really are against someone else, that won't get you very far.

Also, this is Biden's third Democratic Primary for President. In all that time he has never won even one state. If he wins South Carolina it would be his first after almost 30 years of trying.

This kind of record is not good when Biden's primary selling point is that he can win.

As Sanders wins, that reinforces that he can win. Circular I know but that's how it is. A lot of voters decide based on who they think is ahead. Which means Biden supporters will start going over to Bernie.

[Doreen]

48. Biden was my candidate when he came on board.

I went to undecided because I felt it was to early and I needed to study all of the candidates then come to a decision. I think by now I am going to go back to Biden.

[still_one]

53. I agree CalFione. I am hoping the next debate will clarify things, and point out the liability that

a Sanders nomination would present itself in a general election, and wake people up

[katmondoo]

60. I may also switch, I like Biden and I really trust him.

Our allies respect him. Bernie worries me. The general public may not be behind him. Then we get Trump again.

[totodeinhere]

64. I think it's too late to stop Bernie now.

I think that people need to swallow their pride and get with the program and support our future nominee. The only way forward if we want to beat Trump is to get behind Bernie now.

[Squinch]

65. Right because, what? 200 out of 4000 delegates have been set. Its all over.

[totodeinhere]

88. No, I am drawing my conclusions from polls showing Bernie catching Biden is South Carolina

and leading in California and Texas. Plus his big win in Nevada will only add to his momentum. I think he will either go into the convention with a majority of delegates or his total will be so close to a majority that he will be able to go over the top when one or more other candidates withdraw and throw their support to him. Of course that is just my opinion but I have been wrong before. I was one of those who was so sure that Trump would lose last time and we all know how wrong I was on that score. So we shall see.

[Squinch]

89. Correction: 78 out of 4000.

[LovingA2andMI]

78. .....

"Swallow their pride"..... This is funny.

[honest.abe]

69. Bloomberg should focus on both Sanders and Trump.

Both are a disaster.

[Skya Rhen]

80. Bloomberg should drop out.

[honest.abe]

81. He could turn out to be the only thing between us and 4 more years of Trump.

If he is truly on our side we will begin to see Sanders attack ads more frequently and no attacks against the other Democratic candidates.

[Skya Rhen]

84. No more time left to sway public opinion against Bernie. We need a single centrist to go against him

[honest.abe]

85. Huh? We are just getting started.

Bloomberg's massive ad campaign if targeted against Sanders could have almost immediate impact.

[Squinch]

91. In terms of numbers of delegates won we are just getting started. But I read here

that 60% of the delegates will be won or lost when we get the Super Tuesday results. That's not a lot of time.

[totodeinhere]

92. Or he could lose to Trump. n/t

[honest.abe]

93. My thinking is he will focus on helping Biden win the nomination.

Since he probably realizes he can’t actually win.

[totodeinhere]

94. I have always said that I like Joe and would gladly vote for him in the GE.

But I would hope that Mike will put his money where his mouth is no matter who our nominee is. If he does then he can be a positive force for good.

[honest.abe]

95. Yes, agreed.

[TruckFump]

82. Hi, and welcome!

[totodeinhere]

90. I have always liked Joe. But remember that there is also a non-Joe majority in the party.

And a non-Mayor Pete majority, etc., etc.

[musette_sf]

97. Biden was not my first choice

Sen Harris was my first choice.

But my preference will ALWAYS be a Democrat.

[totodeinhere]

99. I think that Senator Harris has a great future in the party.

It's a shame that she wasn't able to raise enough money to allow her to keep her campaign going.

[musette_sf]

96. Same

I have to drop my ballot off next week since I will be traveling on the week of Super Tuesday.

I was all in for Sen Harris and had been undecided until now.