Democratic Primaries
Related: About this forumHarris challenges the thinking on the best way to challenge Trump
Harris challenges the thinking on the best way to challenge Trump
By Jennifer Rubin
Opinion writer
May 3 at 9:00 AM
It is not merely grizzled men in the Democratic Party who think they need a white guy to win. Democratic women, nearly all of whom voted for Hillary Clinton, will say without prompting that they cannot risk this election on another woman (as if Republicans would ever say after 2008, Wed better not nominate any of those white old men again!). My colleague Dave Weigel has heard it. Ive heard it. Pollsters I have spoken to have heard it. Democratic operatives, veterans of the Clinton campaign, have heard it and said it....
In short, the notion that Democrats must have a white man to dislodge Trump is based on not much other than fear. Democrats need a competent candidate who can turn out the base, not scare off moderate independents and disenchanted Democrats, and stand up to Trump. Right now, voters are saying that person is former vice president Joe Biden, who both is extremely well-liked and fits the unproved-but-ingrained hunch that only a white man can beat the white incumbent president.
This week, Sen. Kamala D. Harris (D-Calif.) reminded voters that there is more than one way to slice and dice a dishonest, arrogant white Republican man. She filleted Attorney General William P. Barr, showing she can plan out and carry off a rhetorical knockout. Hey, maybe she can stand up to Trump on that debate stage. Maybe she is the one to rally the African American vote and keep those women who crossed over to vote Democratic in 2018 in the Democrats corner in 2020....
The argument here is not Harris is the star, shell win! but rather, Lots of candidates can catch fire at the right time. So, sure, Biden could be the safe candidate everyone thinks will take down the Republicans, but thats what they said (twice) about Clinton. Maybe the answer is more basic: Whoever can connect in an emotional way with voters, make a solid case for how he/she will take down Trump and run an adept campaign may be the best bet, the person to fire up Democrats and oust Trump. That could be Biden or Harris or Buttigieg or
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/05/03/harris-challenges-best-way-challenge-trump/?utm_term=.cab9e19a3a19
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
ProudMNDemocrat
(16,785 posts)If Joe Biden is the nominee, Kamala Harris just might be the star to tap. Her prosecutorial skills are needed to attract women, the younger voters, and us older ones like me.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
mcar
(42,331 posts)How about Harris/?? or Warren/??
That's kind of what this column is about.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
still_one
(92,190 posts)candidates, I dont think she can win the GE, but she has been moving up in the polls
The two candidates I have been supporting and currently donating to are Harris and Biden, but there are others on my list I like also, though at this time I think either Harris or Biden have the best chance to win a GE, my view can change on that as we get closer to the debate
I have no doubt the one candidate in those debates who will provide the most substantiated and specific answers in that debate will be Warren, though each will have their own merits
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Funtatlaguy
(10,875 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
ProudMNDemocrat
(16,785 posts)Would Kamala Harris pass the Senate. Senate Republicans, even the women, say for Lisa Murkoski, would not vote to confirm her.
If a Democratic Party Ticket wins, we still need a few more Senate seats to break any tie with a Dem VP as long as we retain what seats we still have, plus 2 Independents.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
mtnsnake
(22,236 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
patphil
(6,176 posts)Just as good as a Harris/Biden ticket.
Harris brings in the minorities, women, and progressives.
Biden brings in the moderates and white guys that don't like Trump.
Pat Phillips
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Merlot
(9,696 posts)She's either the presidenial nominee, or Senator, or Atty General. Not someone to put a face on a campaign and turn in votes, to then languish in VP obscurity.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
NYMinute
(3,256 posts)and not on ideals.
Last time, we thought Trump would be easy to beat. We now know he is not.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
still_one
(92,190 posts)making is right on, never under estimate your opponent
We did that with bush also
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
murielm99
(30,741 posts)in all his fake righteousness, I knew we were done. I took the champagne off ice.
We will drink champagne again, just not today.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
still_one
(92,190 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
dalton99a
(81,488 posts)And it is turnout that wins elections. A Democratic ticket must motivate voters in sufficient numbers to overwhelm them
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
patphil
(6,176 posts)Electability is very important, but that is driven by ideas.
A person is electable because their position on the issues strikes a chord with a majority of the voters.
Personality alone will not do it.
Pat Phillips
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
McKim
(2,412 posts)Yes, unfortunately its all about personality or who you would like to have a beer with. Trumps reality TV Stardom set a new low standard for what is presidential!
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
marylandblue
(12,344 posts)And/or the "safe" candidate where "safe" is synonymous with looking like all past Presidents except Obama and Trump.
I hope you can see the problem here. How we do know the best candidate is the one leading the polls today or has certain characteristics? It's assumed to be true, even though candidates thought "electable" have lost to ones thought " unelectable."
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
mcar
(42,331 posts)The column posits the idea that Harris may be a good choice to take on Dotard.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
murielm99
(30,741 posts)along with an experienced woman on the ticket?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
marylandblue
(12,344 posts)not any external characteristics like race, gender or birthplace.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
jalan48
(13,865 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Fiendish Thingy
(15,611 posts)Not running a candidate who isnt an old white male.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
sop
(10,177 posts)because one's preferred candidate got roughed up during the primaries and didn't win, is the Dems' biggest risk.
That's why we're stuck with Trump, McConnell, a conservative majority on the Supreme Court and most of the governorships and state legislatures in GOP hands. Say what you will about Republicans, but they turn out to vote for their guy. Democrats, not so much.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
treestar
(82,383 posts)The race and gender and age of the candidate are not the right factors to consider.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Fiendish Thingy
(15,611 posts)In that order.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
TommyCelt
(838 posts)... is chockfull of interesting potential tickets to ponder!
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
mcar
(42,331 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
FakeNoose
(32,639 posts)I love Kamala, Elizabeth, and Amy but it would break my heart to see them (any of them) insulted by right-wingers like what happened to Hillary. I think it's going to get ugly next year. Whoever leads our party will have my full support, but we need a pitbull who can also smile and crack jokes when necessary.
Our women leaders can do a lot of great things, but please leave the "pitbulling" to the men.
These are not normal times.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
prodigitalson
(2,422 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Biden represents even more of what people rejected in 2016. If Biden has an 85% approval rating that is not enough. The 15% are the ones that voted for Trump. I like Joe because I like the attitude he portrays. Like whether True or not his washing his Corvette in the White House driveway. The people that will determine this election could care less about about Joe's vette. They are trying to scrape up enough money to make copays and buy medicine. The majority of people are unswayable. The very small minority that only voted for Trump because of his pro Progressive Democratic "Lots of Good Paying Jobs" & "Make America Great Again " & "Health Insurance for Evergbody even if you can't pay".
Remember the polls are showing the votes that don't count.
And if Joe winds the presidency there is a good chance he will turn the midterms of both houses over to the GOP.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Doodley
(9,091 posts)confident and bossy (by the way, I'm a huge fan of her), she made absolutely no difference. Maybe she should have thought about her questions more. The Democrats, as a whole, had a chance to land a few punches, but they wasted too much time talking and not enough time asking Barr really tough questions.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
How did she look? Did she sound mean? What about what she was wearing?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Doodley
(9,091 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Andy823
(11,495 posts)But she did a great job, and she wasn't "bossy"!
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Doodley
(9,091 posts)"not willing to take shit." But nothing has changed from that hearing. Trump is still safe. His approval is still where it was. Bill Barr isn't going anywhere.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
treestar
(82,383 posts)The prosecutorial type tough questioning works in those hearings, but the debate would be a different issue - there she can't grill the Dotard.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
NYMinute
(3,256 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
ehrnst
(32,640 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden