Democratic Primaries
Related: About this forumOpinion: The Real Electable Democrat Is Kamala Harris
From Bakari Sellers
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/bakarisellers/kamala-harris-is-the-electable-democrat
A bad idea is running amok in the Democratic primary the conversation on electability. Thanks to the disappointing 2016 presidential election results, electability for many strategists can now be interpreted simply as the white male candidate who is best suited to defeat Trump.
Thats precisely the wrong way of looking at things, and its based on the mistaken belief that the path to victory in 2020 only requires winning back Trump supporters. It misses the much larger issue at hand: Democrats simply wont stand a chance in 2020 if we cant energize African American voters.
The truth is, too many voters who supported President Obama in 2008 and 2012 made a choice to stay home in 2016. In Wayne County, Michigan home of Detroit, where Kamala Harris gave a speech addressing the electability conversation on Sunday 37,000 fewer voters turned out in 2016 than 2012. The county is 40% black. Given that Hillary Clinton lost Michigan by fewer than 11,000 votes, it is reasonable to assume this turnout drop cost Democrats the state.
Its worth remembering that the last electable Democrat won by energizing African Americans, young voters, suburban voters, progressives, and Latinos. He was uniquely positioned to make the argument most central at that time: We need change. He also was a black man named Barack Hussein Obama.
Sid
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
TeamPooka
(24,156 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
DownriverDem
(6,206 posts)would be a formidable ticket. We have never had a woman VP. Harris would then be positioned to become President. Americans are way behind in supporting women as leaders.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
spinbaby
(15,073 posts)Im still leaning Mayor Pete, but am just generally thrilled to have so many great candidates.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
sellitman
(11,596 posts)Harris is my strong #2.
It's early though.
Love her.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
uawchild
(2,208 posts)Biden can't stand on Harris's shoulders, he's going to have to win the nomination on his own.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Skya Rhen
(2,701 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
bearsfootball516
(6,369 posts)The polls dont lie.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
TeamPooka
(24,156 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
athena
(4,187 posts)The VP position is a completely powerless one. Harris would be better off as AG than as VP. Shes already better off as Senator than she would be as VP! Youre not going to fool women into campaigning for another white man by dangling the name of a woman in the second position a woman, by the way, who has not accepted that position and probably never will.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Honeycombe8
(37,648 posts)Obama gave Biden quite a bit of power, I think. And Cheney was the de facto President instead of GWB for the first couple of years, at least.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
doompatrol39
(428 posts)Not saying anything is a sure bet. And I definitely don't love EVERYTHING about Kamala ( but could say the same thing about every candidate). But I really like her a lot and think she could win for the very reasons listed in that article.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
DesertRat
(27,995 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Bleacher Creature
(11,237 posts)I would be thrilled with a Biden presidency, but I'm worried that this focus on winning back older white Trump voters is a recipe for disaster. We win if our base shows up to vote, not by going after a group of people who are likely too far gone by this point. We won in 2018 because of women, people of color (or both). Biden is a good and decent guy with tons of experience, so I wish him all the best, but I also fear that he's fundamentally the wrong person in these particular times.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Andy823
(11,495 posts)That we need to do, it's winning all those we can who didn't even bother to vote in 2016. Some sat it out because they "knew" no way would an idiot like trump win, but they didn't realize Russia was helping him.
One thing I am sure of, the trump cult crowd weren't in that group, they "all" came out and voted for trump. I think a lot of those who stayed home but have now seen the results of a trump president, "WILL" be out to vote next year, and I think our candidates could convince some who were conned with the "both sides" are the same to come out also. We have a better chance going after those who didn't vote, than trying to pull some of trumps cult members away from him.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
MRDAWG
(501 posts)for 2020.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Kahuna7
(2,531 posts)than anyone else. You can't say what worked for Obama can work for Kamala because the conditions are very different now than they were in 2008. We didn't have bots, trolls and fake persona on social media using the racial divides to suppress black voter turnout for Hillary while energizing white turnout for trump. Plus, Obama had the ability by virtue of the dulcet tone of his voice to lull voters into submission. No one has that this time out.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Response to Kahuna7 (Reply #6)
irisblue This message was self-deleted by its author.
irisblue
(32,829 posts)You know this is a discussion board with many diverse opinions. You have contributed your opinions. Did you mean to sound dismissive & snippy?
You OK?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Kahuna7
(2,531 posts)not yours. But for the record, I've updated my post. But still, don't come at me. I'm not here for that. I'm not a child to be talked down to.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
irisblue
(32,829 posts)What is up?
You want/need to block me?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Kahuna7
(2,531 posts)being dismissive and snippy when it was clear, the "he" I referred to was not a DUer, but the author of that article.
You can either block me....or you can even respect me.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
irisblue
(32,829 posts)But 'debate me' is low on my list today.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
irisblue
(32,829 posts)So thanks. I'm sorta ok today. Going to get some meds & a big strong cup of coffee in .
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Kahuna7
(2,531 posts)included my explanation for why I didn't agree with Sellers in my original post. I don't care for simplistic comparisons when there are no actual correlations. Talk about lazy thinking.
I have something for you and hope you feel better soon.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
irisblue
(32,829 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
PatrickforO
(14,516 posts)'lull voters into submission.'
You know, my take on those years was that Obama started off thundering from the pulpit like a minister, but became more and more subdued as the scope and depth of the '08 financial crisis became more apparent each day. By January, he was quite somber indeed.
My feeling here, in 2019, is that an equally deep financial crisis is coming, and the GOP's 2017 tax cut has raised this nation's debt to unsustainable levels. Things later this year and into 2020 will, I think, be very serious and will require gentle but firm leadership and a very steady hand on the part of our new president. S/he will have to surround her/himself with people who know what they are doing, and work really hard with Congress to save the world's economy.
We are wonks. Oh, we have varying levels of knowledge about varying things - I am an economist, for instance - but on this site we find people who are in leadership roles in local, state and national Democratic roles, journalists, and other people who are heavy-hitters in their own communities.
You must remember that most Americans (Stephen King calls Americans 'the great Stupid') really don't pay attention to much of anything. Until the week of.
So regardless of the trolls and bots and the like, we still have a very good chance to get out the vote. I'm supporting Buttigieg, but I'm noticing that the African American community seems a bit underwhelmed with him, as well as with Sanders, who is still having the same problem with that community that surfaced back in '16. Beto is not being much better received. The truth is, there will be much, much work for ANY candidate to do to lay out some good policy positions, listen to people, and navigate the big 'gotcha' that has become our presidential primaries.
Not sure how Harris will do, but I will tell you that I believe in spite of the horrid racism that arose from Obama's election, I think this country at large is MUCH more ready for a person of color and/or a woman. Obama blazed that trail, and must have endured a lot of pain, had to swallow a lot of anger. But he did.
We have to focus now on getting rid of Trump - whomever we nominate, we've all got to do everything humanly possible to get out the message. Because yesterday Trump said he is taking action to overturn the endangered species act, did you know?
What a jerk.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
IronLionZion
(45,269 posts)picking up new states that our party hadn't won in a long time. Kamala could do the same if she can inspire turnout from other types of minorities and women.
In many ways, Trump's unelectability encouraged many on his side to support him to shake things up. American voters like to surprise the experts sometimes.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
INdemo
(6,994 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
brer cat
(24,402 posts)I agree that she can energize the same voters who elected President Obama.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
saidsimplesimon
(7,888 posts)of candidates who speak for me.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
PatrickforO
(14,516 posts)The only concern I have about Harris is she seems to me a bit weak on monetary and fiscal policy. However, that is easily remedied by surrounding herself with people who are strong on that area. Robert Reich comes to mind. But there are others.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
LibFarmer
(772 posts)will vote for Kamala -- that is where this election will be won or lost.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Taraman
(371 posts)It sounds like the myth of the independent voter. I think it'll rest on turnout and enthusiasm on election day.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Demsrule86
(68,355 posts)any woman can get elected and not willing to take any chance that might result in the
reelection of Trump. Plus, I don't dislike Kamala ....like all the candidates mostly, but I would vote for her in a general not a primary. At the moment, she is not earning support from POC according to recent polls. If you can't win a primary (and it is early), you can't win a general. Also, Biden brought in the rustbelt which Hillary had carried in the primary.Biden was an important factor in the Obama/Biden coalition. It was a balanced ticket.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
marylandblue
(12,344 posts)I think it's more important to have an exciting candidate, man or woman, than a safe one. People show up for exciting candidates more than they do for safe ones.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Skya Rhen
(2,701 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
marylandblue
(12,344 posts)I think a lot of people are waiting for the debates, so current polls aren't a good indicator (except for Biden fans 😁 ).
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Kaleva
(36,147 posts)That support shifted to Obama when he won Iowa and showed that he was a viable candidate.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
tishaLA
(14,176 posts)His support grew much later, when it became clear he was a legitimate contender for the nomination.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Demsrule86
(68,355 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Demsrule86
(68,355 posts)for her to catch him up,..polls are bad.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
stopbush
(24,378 posts)Low in the polls? You mean like everyone besides Biden?
Get back to me after Harris wins the CA primary about who can and cant win a primary (I like Swalwell, but I think he will be out of it long before the CA primary happens in March).
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Demsrule86
(68,355 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Chin music
(23,002 posts)If she was president I'd be perfectly fine w that. Easy on the eyes as well..if I may get just a bit 'piggy' (??) in saying so. It is, however, true.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
cilla4progress
(24,589 posts)Harris / Warren!
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
marehare
(40 posts)Senator Harris represents my state and does a great job.
I support Kamala. I would support Biden as Veep again, but
I prefer Kamala, or Warren.
So Kamala,Warren, Biden, Castro would be great as they all have experience at the national level and all know the law. All are very well educated also which our country needs.
I will never support Bernie due to his lack of ability to compromise with his fellow senators, which is one of the most important qualities a leader must have.
His voting record is dismal.
No on
Amber Alert
Immigration
Gun Control
Raped Women's health care bill which would have allowed rapists of women (once caught) to be tested for AIDS and HIV so women could get medical care early. Bernie put the interests of rapists first
Then there is his insane NO votes to punish Russia with Sanctions for attacking our sacred elections. Bernie didn't want to punish them.
Bernie won't ever win, but he may damage the Democratic candidate like he did to Hillary so trump wins again.
NEVER BERNIE, OR TULSI.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
marylandblue
(12,344 posts)Harris could do it. So can some others. We really do need to think about an exciting transformational candidate. The candidate doesn't have to be just like Obama, but he or she have to speak in their own voice. Authenticity is in.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Taraman
(371 posts)I was stunned in so many ways in 2016. I hadn't realized the depth of sexism in our society, maybe even deeper than racism. I live in a red state but family and friends are mostly progressive, so my sample was faulty.
I question whether we are being too defensive in our fear of the re-election of Trump. Maybe it's time to present a new view of America's future in a strong way, an alternate reality as it were.
I remain uncertain, myself. I think Kamala has that "it factor" about her, and her experience in law and order issues may be reassuring after the assault on the Constitution.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
marylandblue
(12,344 posts)Just harder. I think the best woman to make is Warren because she takes the sexism issue head on. She tells little girls, "I am running because that's what girls do." It makes the unconscious bias conscious, so we can't ignore it and pretend sexism is really something else.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Drunken Irishman
(34,857 posts)Electability is more than just policy and message. It takes a lot to win a presidential campaign and a lot of it is built out of campaign infrastructure, ground game and coordination.
Harris has a good message. She's got the background. But does she have the capability of turning out the Obama coalition?
Turnout is more than message. It's about mobilization and campaign strategy. Obama's coalition was a by product of their fantastic GOTV drive in both 2008 and 2012. If Harris, or any Democrat, for that matter, lacks the type of GOTV drive we saw from Obama, they're not going to mirror his successes.
It's why we have a primary process. Harris will either prove, or not, her electability. What's her strategy to get these voters to the polls? It can't all just be message. Obama had a strategy. He had a team that worked countless hours to facilitate a win in Iowa that catapulted him to the nomination. It was that infrastructure that allowed for his wins - in a very similar situation to what Bill Clinton saw in 1992.
It's also the lack of it that can undo a seemingly unstoppable campaign. Just ask Howard Dean in 2004, Mitt Romney in 2008 and, at times, Hillary in 2016. It's why I am glad Biden is running - he'll prove his mettle. If he slips up between now and winning the nomination, it'll tell me he wasn't the Democrat to win back the White House. IF he survives this primary, though, it'll give me great hope that he is.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
MrsCoffee
(5,801 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Hassler
(3,326 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Botany
(70,294 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
dsc
(52,130 posts)now the size of his victory was helped by the energy but frankly other than Edwards anyone would have won on our side in 2008.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Kurt V.
(5,624 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
B Stieg
(2,410 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Martin Eden
(12,805 posts)The key, regardless of those identity factors, is to nominate a champion for the cause who can inspire people across a wide swath of voters.
That includes white Obama voters who switched to Trump and, most definitely, black voters and women voters and young voters who have to come out and VOTE if we are to win this election and end the national nightmare.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Andy823
(11,495 posts)She is the real electable candidate.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Bradshaw3
(7,455 posts)Obama won in 2012 with 51 percent of the vote. He ran as a unifier (remember "no red America, no blue America" and was personally liked by a solid majority of Americans - and still got only 51 percent as an incumbent. Harris is not running as a unifier, and her appeal to the swing voters in the upper midwest that will be needed to win the electoral college is very much an iffy proposition. Factors such as voter suppression and meddling will be there again in 2020.
So as much as people want to believe GOTV and appeal to the base is the answer, it still will come down to winning WI, MI and PA. The Dems big gains in 2018 came mostly from white suburban women who mostly supported moderate candidates. A senator from California with the most liberal voting record in the senate may appeal to DUers but it definitely does not to large swathes of swing voters we will have to have to not only win the presidency but also take the senate.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Response to Bradshaw3 (Reply #53)
BlueWI This message was self-deleted by its author.
Bradshaw3
(7,455 posts)... about not running a female person of color, so don't know who you are talking about. I was talking about Harris in particular. And NC, FL and GA are fool's gold for Dems, as 2018 showed, and Florida has demonstrated over and over again.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
BlueWI
(1,736 posts)I am deleting my original post
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Kaleva
(36,147 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Honeycombe8
(37,648 posts)We have nothing to look at to see how thing she or the others might handle things, or how the voters might react to her or the others. Biden's like an old shoe. We know certain things about how his campaign will go. I, like others, have concerns that there will be the enthusiasm that appeals to independents and established Republicans, but he might. He SEEMS popular in a cross-section of Americans.
I'd be fine with Harris. But there might be too many groups that she wouldn't appeal to.
Biden is so far ahead that it looks like he's a shoe-in, even tho it's way early. Things can change, but he's so far ahead of the pack, and none of the others is even nationally known except for Bernie.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
mcar
(42,210 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Honeycombe8
(37,648 posts)I'd be okay with Harris (more so than Biden, actually...IF she could win a sh*tload of votes, which I'm not sure of; she is an unknown for a national election, so it's a risk; before you say "What about Obama?" - Obama was....Obama.)
I'm not leaning toward supporting Biden, but I do think he has a large minority support base, doesn't he?
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
TreasonousBastard
(43,049 posts)Do we care that Obama beat the sterling ticket of McCaine and Palin? And by a very small percentage.
I do remember in '08 when the teabaggers were out in force and made a lot of noise but really didn't want to do the work. They showed up as poll watchers but left when they found out what they were supposed to do. Knock on doors? You're kidding, right...
What did show up in great numbers, and did the work, were young AA men and women. The "Obama Girls" helped motivate the rest of us with their enthusiasm.
In '12, the magic seemed to be gone, and I don't know why. No more weepy eyes at the sight or mention of Obama, and a lower turnout in key areas. He still won, but because he deserved it, not because he was a new shining light.
So, here we are, with our candidate running against someone who has the incumbent advantage, but an incumbent on very shaky ground. And since Hillary beat him in the popular vote already, before the general public knew what a putz he is, I can't see why Harris would have a problem knocking him out.
My favorite in the whole mob is Warren, who has excellent legislative skills and a mastery of policy. Which is why I think she is better served in the Senate, and her true calling might be Majority Leader in a Dem Senate.
Klobuchar, who everyone discounts for some reason, has the Truman-like quality of "no bullshit-- let's get the job done" which I find incredibly refreshing.
Anyway, unless some dark horse pops up and takes it, I would probably bet on Harris and hope she's smart enough to expand whatever base she has.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Mosby
(16,168 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Andy823
(11,495 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden