the Democrats' best 2016 backup is California Gov. Jerry Brown.

[itsrobert]

http://www.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/lara-brown/2015/08/21/jerry-brown-is-the-democrats-best-choice-to-replace-clinton

Still, if Clinton's candidacy were to implode, I don't imagine Biden would be on a glide path to the nomination (unless Obama were to endorse him). Secretary of State John Kerry might decide his time is now. As he lost the 2004 election by fewer than 120,000 votes from Ohio, he can legitimately argue he's been a better candidate than Biden in past presidential races.

But by far, the Democrats' strongest septuagenarian is California Gov. Jerry Brown. He has vast political experience. He's well-liked across the Democratic Party. He continues to enjoy high approval ratings and has widely been perceived as an effective governor.

He'd also offer the Democrats two key talking points Sanders, Biden and Kerry can't: He's a Washington outsider and he knows how to make government work because he's served four terms in the top executive office in California. Further, he has a more than two-decade long reputation of being the "anti-Clinton," which would not only likely endear him to Sanders' supporters, but would also place him in good stead were the party needing to wash its hands of all things Clinton in the wake of an indictment.

So while Brown's candidacy may be a far-fetched possibility, from my view, he's the best "second choice" for Democrats to mount a competitive general election campaign. But then, all of us Browns from California tend to view politics rather unconventionally.

[WheelWalker]

1. I've always been a JB supporter...

Both Jerry Brown and Joe Biden. I'm in with either.

[dchill]

2. We don't need no steenking backup!

I hope.

[DJ13]

3. That would look no better than Romney trying to steal from Trump

We need to follow protocol, not devolve into an anti democratic mess like the GOP.

[Beacool]

4. Yeah, let's go from an almost 75 year old to a 78 year old.

That's the winning ticket.....

[JonLeibowitz]

7. Ageism on DU? Who would have thought!

[Beacool]

8. The presidency ages people pretty fast.

IMO, they are both too old. As it is, I think that Hillary barely makes it under the radar at 69 (on election day).

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. Let me bring the heavy Ack Ack to this party

no, not because I do not like brown... I do. He has flatly said I am not running.

[JonLeibowitz]

6. You are jerry brown?

"He has flatly said I am not running"

[nadinbrzezinski]

14. Nah just quoting him

[thesquanderer]

16. And he is not running.

That doesn't necessarily mean he would turn down the nomination if it were offered to him.

But no, I don't see it happening.

[nadinbrzezinski]

17. I do not excpect him to take it

he would like to finish his 4th term as governor and fade into the sunset.

[JI7]

9. this is from last year and he is 99 years old

[Samantha]

10. I have always admired him (eom)

[stevenleser]

11. No, it's Biden. nt

[cherokeeprogressive]

12. Californians are beginning call Brown's "high speed rail" the Browndoggle.

[Kentonio]

13. If you think they'd get away with trying to parachute in a replacement, you're very much mistaken.

Either Hillary or Bernie get the nomination or the whole thing is a farce and the Republicans will win the White House.

[dana_b]

15. If it's not Hillary, then Bernie

and vice versa.

I think we're covered.