Here's my current candidate support breakdown

[brooklynite]

Dropped from consideration
Gabbard
Sanders
Warren
Booker
Biden
Gillibrand
Castro
Harris
Delaney
Gravel

Supporting
Hickenlooper
Inslee

Considering
Klobuchar
Buttigieg
Swalwell

Need More info
Messam
O'Rourke
Ryan

[marylandblue]

1. Why did you drop all the front runners?

[msongs]

2. its just an opinion list, yours and mine might be different nt

[marylandblue]

5. Sure, we have different opinions, no problem with that.

Just curious what the reasoning is, that's all.

[brooklynite]

4. Bernie is "Bernie"...

Warren is mishandling fundraising and is suffering for it
Gabbard's policy on Syria and refugees crossed a redline for us
Booker is advocating for a reparations study
Harris has never run a competitive race against a Republican
Biden is too old in my opinion, and won't present a significant enough change
Gillibrand has never stood out a candidate with a solid message

[Decoy of Fenris]

3. Would you mind explaining your rationale for dropping Biden?

I know this list is your opinion, and the others make sense for one reason or another I can think of, but Biden less so. Is it because of the touching issue becoming a possible punching bag for the right?

[Indygram]

6. I can't take anymore negativity so I'm liking Beto a lot

I have been lurking for quite some time and joined because I keep reading inaccurate things posted about Beto based on what I've been hearing and seeing from watching all of his live streaming from his facebook page. I guess I'm really surprised that he doesn't have more support here. I am liking him so much I may even change my registration from Independent to Democrat so I can vote in the primary for him. I have never voted in a primary before even though I've voted exclusively for Democrats for over a decade.

Realistically, looking back over every presidential election in my lifetime, the candidate with the most charisma has always won the election. As disgusting as Trump is, he is very charismatic (his is NOT in a good way, I know). Democrats really need to nominate someone more charismatic. I really think Beto is the best bet for that reason too. And dang it, I just love how he is so hopeful and positive and is all about unity. I just can't tolerate anymore division or nastiness.

[brooklynite]

7. You might find that Buttigieg has charisma but with more substance

I listened to O'Rourke's kickoff speech and I didn't hear a lot of detail.

[Indygram]

8. I like him OK but if I'm being honest he doesn't really inspire me much

He's smart for sure and he has some great arguments to things. I just don't think he has enough of that sumthin' sumthin' that just is necessary to win.

I also watched the kickoff speech and he did not have a lot of detail at that point. His first visits to the early states was more of a "listening tour" where he talked to people and listened to their ideas. That's another thing I like about him. He didn't just assume that he knows what everyone thinks/wants. He went out and asked. His facebook page has videos of the house parties he did with people asking questions, many of them really hard, and he did great answering them.

Some of what I learned from watching those and interviews:

He likes the Green New Deal, and has very specific ideas for global warming and the environment to enact from day 1. He just doesn't want to let any term/name policy is called to get in the way of progress.

He supports free community college and programs that allow high school seniors to graduate with both a HS diploma and an Associates Degree, more ways to eliminate student debt, more support for unions and apprenticeship programs as well.

Here is a recent interview that goes into more specifics:

[Hortensis]

11. Interesting. There are too many candidates for

one to get any traction through the media for more than a couple days, Sanders excepted. And more candidates coming. For me, time to get committed will be later when we see who survives.

As for Buttigieg and issues, seems to me they’re all Variations on the same Democratic themes, some emphases more suited to mine than others, but overall happily inspiring.

So for me it comes down to electability, competence, and good character, including trustworthiness. Most make the cut nicely, with a handful firm discards.

[Indygram]

12. Being able to win is the most important thing to me

And I think there are a combination of necessary traits/abilities that cannot be sacrificed. Being more charismatic and more able to connect to people across the board is absolutely crucial. The bottom line is that whoever wins the Independents is going to win. During my time lurking here I see people argue that "Independents" just vote for Republicans. That's not true. I'm a registered Independent who is pretty moderate and I haven't voted for a Republican in over a decade. In this environment the only thing Democrats need to do to get the majority of Independents is nominate a candidate who is able to connect and draw people in so they listen and not be so far left that it makes moderates too uneasy.

Because of the way Trump is, the nominee must be unscripted and genuine and able to think fast on their feet and respond well. And they have to be vetted and shown to be able to survive the inevitable smears. And by gosh they must NOT be divisive. That kind of rhetoric last time around caused damage that has left scars, resentments and lingering anger and hard feelings. These are other reasons I think Beto is the best choice. He is unscripted and was just vetted very thoroughly and he darn near beat Ted Cruz in Texas. He's got the charisma, and he's very tall, taller than Trump. I know people like mayor Pete, he's great, but Trump will tower over him on a debate stage. It shouldn't matter but it does. I actually kind of like that Beto is sort of flying under the radar right now. It's never good to peak too early. I do think once he gets one of the CNN town halls that people will be very excited by him. He's being smart too. I'm in a swing state in a red district. Not an early state at all...but I got an email the other day asking me to organize to canvas already. I would do it if not for health issues that prevent me from physically being able to.

[Hortensis]

16. Agree 100% with all except for

believing I can tell at this point who the strongest candidates will be. They’re still entering the race!

The few people who are actually paying any real attention, like on forums like this, tend to be milling around trying to decide like kids at a Ben & Jerry’s. Keeping in mind that we’re paying little attention to, even unaware of, various factors, some giant, beyond our personal responses.

[Indygram]

17. Let's look at past elections and charisma...

1980: Ronald Reagan beat Jimmy Carter...Reagan had more charisma.
1984: Ronald Reagan beat Walter Mondale...Reagan had more charisma.
1988: George HW Bush beat Dukakis...Bush had more charisma (although both were kinda duds)
1992: Bill Clinton beat Bush...Clinton had more charisma
1996: Bill Clinton beat Bob Dole...Clinton had more charisma
2000: George W. Bush beat Al Gore...Bush had more charisma, which made it close enough for those dangling chads to wreak havoc.
2004: Bush beat John Kerry...Bush had more charisma (I'm still mad Dems passed on Howard Dean.)
2008: Obama beat John McCain...Obama had more charisma
2012: Obama beat Romney...Obama had more charisma
2016: Trump beat Hillary...Trump had more charisma (doesn't even have to be GOOD charisma to win)

An almost 40 year consistent pattern...charisma matters. Democrats must NOT nominate anyone who doesn't have the charisma needed to win. Positive, hopeful charisma that brings people together is much better than the negativity and divisiveness.

[Hortensis]

18. Oh, charisma is BIG, no doubt. And certainly it doesn't

have to be good. Lots of different styles and underlying elements. Beto has energetic youth charisma, Biden warm fuzzies Uncle Joe, elder statesman version. We don't have any real glam charisma right now; O'Rourke and Buttigieg supposedly invoke some kennedy-esqueness, but neither are from "glam" backgrounds, no Camelot.

Sanders has a definite authoritarian element to his, distinctly unusual for left-wing politicians who manage to run as Democrats since liberals are anti-authoritarian/anti-fascistic. But it helps explain behaviors of those of authoritarian followers drawn by it, plus some others drawn by voices projecting certainty in these uncertain times.

Harris has strength and gravitas charisma, for a while. As The Atlantic put it, "Warren had charisma, then she ran for president." Voters are as suggestible as fashion shoppers, so disappearing female charisma for her, and for Klobuchar. Quick, throw on some kindling before it's gone!

Plenty of others, almost all of whom have charisma or they wouldn't be where they are, but the fuel is media attention; no fuel for their fires, might as well be no charisma. As I recall, the media rushed in and beat Dean's until it was cold and dead.

[sprinkleeninow]

9. I have one consideration in supporting until I don't.

[Tom Rinaldo]

10. I always respect your opinion whether or not we agree

I appreciate how you contribute to DU, how you share news about all of our candidates impartially. You don't go out of your way to attack those who you don't support but are open and honest about your opinions, positive and negative. Of those who you are supporting I like Inslee. I support some who you do not, but we will be working together to defeat Trump regardless.

[SKKY]

13. I'm really only considering these 4...

Harris
Buttigieg
Beto
Biden

I believe these 4 candidates give us the best chance to beat Trump. And if I could pick my dream ticket, it would be Harris/Beto. Although, Mayor Pete is impressing and I think will be a real player going forward.

[Indygram]

14. Those are my top four, too

I also would love to see Harris as AG, too, because I suspect someone is going to need to prosecute a lot of people.

[SKKY]

15. Of course they are. Great minds think alike!