Stacey Abrams, a black woman, came within 55k votes of beating a white man for governor in Georgia

[EffieBlack]

We're seeing a big push for Beto to run for president, but none for Stacey. Why is that? It couldn't be because she hasn't indicated she wants to run since, until the past couple of days, Beto was saying unequivocally that he would not run.

It can't be because she lost her race given that also applies to Beto, who actually lost by a slightly larger margin 2.6% v. Stacey's 2.4% - while facing fewer obstacles.


The only reason I can think of is race/gender - hardly a leap given the number of Dems who have insisted that now is not the time to go all identity politicky with a woman or minority because only a white man can win in 2020.

Is there another reason that Stacey Abrams, a dynamic, exciting, inspirational and expectations-and-glass-ceiling shattering candidate is not being touted as a presidential contender?

[ismnotwasm]

1. Racism is it.

“Cool” White dude is less threatening the status quo (I hate that term but I it use here to refer to the power dynamic of race) than a truth-speaking Black woman.

[EffieBlack]

2. Perhaps the same reason some suggest a Beto/Kamala ticket

Which really rankles given the disparity in experience, political acumen and electoral success.

[GaYellowDawg]

35. I've suggested a Kamala/O'Rourke ticket.

Never once considered reversing it. It gives me chills, in a good way, to think of Kamala Harris dissecting Trump in a debate. The way she ran rings around Kavanaugh in his hearings was fantastic.

[hughee99]

13. People are "touted" as presidential candidates by people from their own party.

When you say it's racism, you're saying it's DEMS who are racist.

[EffieBlack]

18. You don't think Dems are capable of racism?

[hughee99]

19. I certainly do, it's just pretty rare to see people accuse Dems of racism here when it's

not primary season.

[ismnotwasm]

31. Well yes, any number of Democrats are infected by racism

You somehow doubt this? On edit, I see you clarified. I am one of those SJWs and racism is fucking everywhere

[scheming daemons]

3. One big reason: Beto is a money-raising machine.

Raised $70 million in mostly small donations for a Senate race. That's unheard of.


And it makes people take notice.


As great as Abrams was.... neither she, nor ANYONE on the Democratic side, can raise funds like Beto.


Beto is Obama.... but from Texas.

[EffieBlack]

4. How do you know she can't raise money?

if he doesn't run, he can use that money raising skill to support the nominee...

And, trust me - Beto has done nothing to demonstrate that he's an Obama.

[scheming daemons]

24. He's Obama as a campaigner/fundraiser is what I meant

[mcar]

5. Or Andrew Gillum

Both Gillum and Abrams ran inspiring campaigns. Why aren't they getting 2020 buzz?

[EffieBlack]

7. Good point

I used Stacey as an example because her race was comparably close to the Texas results. But, you're right - where's the buzz on Andrew Gillum?

[mcar]

10. Dude has loads of charisma and knows how to fire up a crowd

He lost by .41%.

[Hoyt]

6. Honestly don't think Abrams would do as well nationally*, but I think she'd be a better candidate

than O'Rourke. Yeah, O'Rourke's dancing around at rallies gets people excited, but I don't think that is what we need as a Prez candidate.

Abrams was much better qualified than KKKemp, and would have moved Georgia forward on a bunch of fronts. I'm not sure what is next for her, but I sure hope she runs for something (US Senate 2020, 2022, or run for Governor again in 2022) . . . . . . or, gets appointed to a high level position if we win Presidency in 2020. Would also hope she is heavily involved in the 2020 Presidential election.


*That may well be because there are still a lot of ignorant white wing racists in this country.

[beachbum bob]

8. she would have clearly won it if all the voters who wanted to vote were able to vote

gotta be better prepared next time. We do know all the ploys that will be used and its our fault if we don't have the tactics and strategy to combat all them.

[edhopper]

11. This

She won and the election was stolen. Just like Hillary in 2016.

[EffieBlack]

15. True - but it's kind of hard to overcome a player who's also the referee

It took all manner of racism and cheating for Kemp to scrape past Stacey.

[beachbum bob]

17. we know HOW they will cheat....and can be combatted

[uponit7771]

25. THIS !!!!

[HipChick]

9. Straight up racism..

conscious or unconscious...
I love Stacey's energy...I see Beto trading on his white man privilege..

[In It to Win It]

12. She's phenomenal. She should absolutely run.

I would support her over Beto.

[Hortensis]

16. How about she doesn't remind people of Camelot. "Oohh, Bobbie!!!!"

A handicap for her for sure. But some people crave glam, and Irish Catholic identity is still alive albeit relatively tepid due to lack of adversity (in 2010 10.5% compared to 13.3% for black Ameicans). O'Rourke is one of them, and both glam cravers and IC identifiers seem to be drawn to the idea of getting an energetic white Irish Catholic boy again. Ohhh, Bobbie!!! (Sorry, but I lived through that and can still hear it. )

This also came to mind on speculating about your question: Stacey's overweight, in a nation where that is not a sign of prosperity. I've never read anything measuring fat bias against other types, but we all know it's considerable. I don't believe there'd be a Beto-size call for her to run for president if she were a white woman, either. I do suspect, again without supporting data, that it would be more of a negative nationally than here in the deep south.

Back to tribal advantage: 76% of all voters are white like Beto v. 13.5% black like Stacey? Racism's unquestionably a factor, but getting warm fuzzies from someone of your own color isn't exactly the same as images of public hangings being brought to mind by someone of another.

Last, Beto was running to go to DC, Stacey to go a state house. Factor?

Stacey is one hell of a speaker, far more inspiring than most, and I liked most of what I heard. Imo, at her best better than Beto, but he's a genuinely inspiring speaker also.

Btw, because you brought the subject up, I now realize I would be interested in her someday running for the presidency. After a successful term or two as governor of Georgia.

Oh, another possible reason: Beto fans might contain a higher proportion of those for whom charisma practically drives all other qualifications from mind. Wouldn't be surprised if it were so. The AA forum here has always averaged far less silly and more clear eyed than the GD, so perhaps that'd extend into the populace, and not be entirely limited to AA, though again just speculation.

[workinclasszero]

20. 55K?

The damn GOP suppressed double or triple that number plus God knows what other crooked shit the republicans did down there.

Stacey Abrams DID BEAT the white man for governor in Georgia in a fair election!

[DFW]

21. Actually, I think she won the election. She just lost the counting

If every legitimately eligible voter had been allowed to cast their vote, I think Abrams would be the one counting her margin of victory.

"Those who cast the votes decide nothing. Those who count the votes decide everything."--attributed to Soviet dictator Josef Stalin.

[Hortensis]

30. Yes. I'm sure she was Georgia's choice for governor,

not that astonishingly corrupt creep. In addition to vote counting irrregularities are various forms of blocking citizens from voting at all. Georgia's now famous with America-watchers in at least 150 nations.

I've read we have a real chance at getting automatic national voter registration passed this term even though we don't have a majority in the senate. There's big support for it. In any case, it's regarded as basically inevitable.

[Awsi Dooger]

22. Texas and Georgia are hardly equivalent

I could supply plenty of numbers but a basic reference point is that Trump defeated Hillary by 9 points in Texas compared to slightly more than 5 points in Georgia.

Texas has 44% self-identified conservatives to 20% liberals while Georgia is several points more favorable at 42% conservatives and 22% liberals. Those are the presidential year numbers, which is what we are focusing on.

Also, a federal race like senate is extraordinarily more difficult to wrestle away from the preferred party than a governor race. Voters treat senate races like a mini presidential race, given the national issues at stake. But they don't mind switching to the other party in governorships. That's how you see a Republican winning huge in Massachusetts while a Democrat wins Kansas. Lotsa luck with that parlay in senate races from the same states.

Bottom line, Beto is a considerably stronger candidate than Abrams. If Beto were a native Georgian who fit in with that state, but everything else remains the same, Beto defeats Kemp by several points minimum and we don't need to fret all the suppressed votes.

The desperation to knock Beto O'Rourke is rather silly. None of the comparisons are valid. But at least we have apparently moved on from the most comical knock of all..."He couldn't even beat Ted Cruz."

[EffieBlack]

23. In order for your rather tortured argument to be credible

You'd have to factor in the role that race and gender played against Stacey, factors that Beto didn't have to overcome - and despite which, she still managed to perform similarly to him. The fact that you completely ignored it and treated her as if she didn't almost overcome a huge obstacle - and likely actually did and was stopped only by illegal voter suppression tactics - undermines your point and bolsters mine.

But that aside, you haven't answered my question. I didn't ask whether and if so, why Beto may be a stronger presidential candidate than Stacey. I asked why Stacey is not even being touted as a potential candidate at all.

[Hortensis]

33. We are discussing NATIONAL candidacy for president,

though, Dawger, not state elections, making your analyses kind of irrelevant. Even with this change of subject, though, I can't really agree with your reasoning. I live in GA, btw.

GA has never changed from the dominant conservative to the liberal party for governorships (or for senators for that matter). That is a huge part of why Stacey's almost certainly being the choice of a majority of the Georgia electorate this year is such an incredible achievement, for her and for our state.

But you do remind of a giant factor I bizarrely forgot to list above: Beto's male, Stacey's female. ( You could have just mentioned that and skipped the rest.) Another thing we have never done is gotten to the point of being able to swear in a female president or a female governor of Georgia -- of either party. We do, however, have good reason to believe majorities of voters did want both but both women weren't able to be sworn in because the will of the people was derailed.

[FBaggins]

26. His performance in TX translates better to the national stage

Race certainly plays a factor, but not in the sense that you think. She obviously enjoyed high turnout and support levels in the African American community... but that’s almost three times as large in Georgia as in most of the country. To come so close in TX, OTOH, translates better nationally.

Having said that... I wouldn’t expect either of them to get far. We’re focused on 2020, but we also need candidates in the 2030s and 2040s. They can both win other races to build the kind of resume they need for a White House run.

[EffieBlack]

27. Any "translation to the national stage" is pure speculation - especially with a losing campaign

But I agree with you about building their resumes. My concern is that many people (not you) seem to think that Beto is good to go from a losing race straight to the top.

Mike Espy - a former Congressman and Cabinet secretary - ran a great race in Mississippi, exceeded expectations, forced a runoff, outperformed both Obama and Clinton, and flipped several Trump counties from red to blue. I'm curious to see if any of the people on the Beto bandwagon are as eager to see Espy run for president - or if they'll make excuses about why Beto is so much more qualified to run than Espy is.

[Tom Rinaldo]

28. Complex. No doubt racism, and in some cases a pragmatic political calculation in response to racism

plays a role as well, but it isn't just a two dimensional picture. I love Stacey Abrams, but then again I also love Bernie Sanders (and no I am not trying to equate them in any way). By that I only mean that we all respond differently to different human beings for reasons apart from race, as well as for reasons due to race. Some here on DU who agree with me on really liking Kamala Harris for example, obviously don't agree with me on liking Bernie Sanders also.

There was a profound surge in support for Barack Obama as a national political figure after his 2004 Democratic National Convention speech. His idealism laden but not sharp edged partisan message struck a deep chord that many up and coming white politicians were not able to equally set off. Barack got some of that Kennedy like mystique thing going for him back then, and Beto has some of that now. Barack became a celebrity politician before he announced for President (one with great depth and substance unlike the current pretender) and that appears to be happening for Beto now.

You know sexism might be as big a part of this thing as racism, maybe even bigger. Both Beto and Stacey were big underdogs who put up an amazing race against all odds and that drew sympathetic coverage to both of them. In Florida most people expected DeSantos to lose and the media dynamics were a little different there.

I am not defending the role racism and sexism plays in America. Clearly women of color have seriously been underestimated by a whole lot of political analysts who still are wary of them being able to pick up enough white male votes to win a Presidential Election. I would consider backing Stacey for President.

[forthemiddle]

29. If it is race or gender

How do you explain the calls for Kamilla Harris, or even Corey Booker to run?
They are both African Americans, and in the former case, a female.

I think that Stacey Abrams has not gotten the buzz because she has truly not been on the national stage. Very few people (outside the political forums) have ever seen or heard of her.

There is also the case of her obesity. Whether we want to admit it or not, we do judge based on weight. And before you claim that's not fair, please remember what we all said (the other side said it too) about Chris Christie when he was running.

[EffieBlack]

34. Kamala Harris and Cory Booker are irrelevant to this conversation

Harris and Booker are sitting US senators who carried their states in the last election. They are natural potential candidates.

Beto is a Congressman who just lost a statewide race, yet is being touted as the next great hope of the party. Stacey Abrams also just lost a statewide race but is not being given even a fraction of the attention or hype by the same people who insist that Beto should run.

And Stacey has indeed been on the national stage - at least as much as Beto. Perhaps she's not on YOUR radar but millions of people across the country know exactly who she is, followed her race closely, and are excited and inspired by her - just as excited and inspired as you are by Beto.
.

[forthemiddle]

36. Too tell the truth

Betos not on my radar either.

I do respect Stacey, and would love to see her get more love, I just don’t see it as her (or Beto, for that matter) time.

I have no favorite candidate yet, I will just wait and see how it pans out.

[WeekiWater]

32. At this current point in time,

If Beto and Abrams were to announce, I would be strongly leaning toward Abrams. Look at her history. Extremely impressive in damn near every area and a lot for progressives to love.

It's not just the metrics you mention, it's in background as well. Both are impressive individuals. This is not a knock on Beto in any way. And Beto seems to be a fundraising juggernaut. I just don't think we can really use that as a metric as all races are different(region, opponent, national spotlight, etc.).