There are 2 dozen 2020 Democratic presidential candidates, but it's really only a 5 person race

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

The field of Democratic presidential candidates all vying to unseat President Donald Trump from the White House in 2020 is historically massive. While there are 24 legitimate candidates, it is more or less a five-candidate race by all realistic measurements: Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Kamala Harris, and Pete Buttigieg.

What each poll shows, whether in a national scope or narrowed down to specific early voting states, is that only a few candidates emerge at the top of the field, while the remaining dozen-and-a-half candidates barely crack 1%.

Consistently, each poll paints a similar picture in which Biden holds a commanding lead, which has slimmed down a bit since he underwhelmed at the first primary debate in Miami, followed by a mix of Harris, Sanders, and the resurgent Warren. Buttigieg has maintained a strong showing after emerging from obscurity into an unlikely frontrunner.

No candidate has overtaken Biden in the RealClearPolitics polling average. None surpassed Sanders until this month, when both Warren and Harris received a post-debate bump.

Buttigieg hovers above 5% as well, which is light years ahead of the rest of the field struggling to get the mandatory 2% in four separate Democratic National Committee-approved polls before the August debates. Former Rep. Beto O'Rourke of Texas started quite strong, but in recent months has seen any traction all but evaporated.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/there-are-2-dozen-2020-democratic-presidential-candidates-but-its-really-only-a-5-person-race/ar-AAEhmKz?li=BBnb7Kz

[highplainsdem]

1. This is going to upset the people celebrating a new Texas poll showing Beto with a wide lead over

all the other candidates.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287215656

It's an interesting poll. I believe it's an outlier, since it's so different from earlier state polls, but it does bolster people who still think Beto can win.

[thesquanderer]

2. There are 5 more debates before Iowa. Someone else could still break through. (nt)

[4139]

3. Are you young and don't remember Jimmy Carter at 1% in 1975?????

?w=1150

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

4. Yes I remember Carter

That was 43 years ago.

Guess I'm just not a state geek like you.

[NurseJackie]

5. If Carter had his own Twitter account, website and facebook page back then...

If Carter had his own Twitter account, website and facebook page back then... he would have risen to the top much sooner. Back then, candidates depended on the debates for exposure and recognition.

Today's candidates DO have those advantages... and although it's an interesting factoid about Carter, that's really all it is.

Fact is: the times have changed, media has changed. People no longer have to wait for the evening newspaper to read yesterday's news. People can get news and information instantly instead of waiting for the Huntley Brinkley Report at dinnertime. People can subscribe to emails, people get info forwarded to them, people can do research without having to go to the library.

In 2019, if the bottom-tier candidates aren't able to make it at this "late" date (considering all the advantages they have when compared to Carter) then they should instead start putting things in motion for the cabinet position they actually want... or making nice with the eventual winner so they can have a chance of being selected as the VP.

We need to pare down this field to the top 25% as soon as possible.

[Skya Rhen]

8. +1,000,000

[Hassin Bin Sober]

6. It's obvious everybody but Bernie needs to drop out.

[Funtatlaguy]

7. Eventually it will be two. Biden & NotBiden

I think after Super Tuesday in March, everybody drops out and let’s Biden go against one person.
Probably Bernie.
But,if he’s really doing poorly and decides he’d much rather see Warren nominated than Biden, then Bernie will step aside in favor of Warren.
If both Warren and Bernie falter on Super Tuesday, maybe Harris can win California and some other big states and she will become the anti Biden.