John Delaney draws 11 people to 2020 event - does he truly think he can win?

[Eugene]

Source: The Guardian

John Delaney draws 11 people to 2020 event – does he truly think he can win?

The former congressman has put $24m of his own cash into an increasingly quixotic presidential run – and he’s ploughing on despite a near total lack of support

Adam Gabbattin Iowa
@adamgabbatt
Mon 19 Aug 2019 07.00 BST Last modified on Mon 19 Aug 2019 07.02 BST

John Delaney has poured a staggering $24m of his own money into running for president. He has been campaigning for the White House for more than two years, and in that time has held more than 200 events in Iowa.

On one recent Thursday morning, these efforts translated into a grand total of 11 people coming out to see Delaney, at a campaign event in the small town of Algona, in the north of the state.

The former Maryland congressman, former businessman and formerly much wealthier candidate is one of a slew of long-shot candidates for the Democratic nomination. In a crowded, historically diverse field, Delaney is part of a group of white, middle-aged men who are forging ahead with their increasingly quixotic presidential campaigns in spite of a collective lack of support.

Delaney strode into Miller’s Sports Bar & Grill, one of a chain of bars across Iowa, just after 10am. One of his team had taped a couple of Delaney 2020 campaign posters to a wall in the back of the bar, and a sign-up list was on a table. The crowd, all silver haired apart from a thirtysomething man who walked in late, were sitting patiently at four different tables.

Clad in the off-duty politician’s uniform of open-necked shirt, blue jeans and casual brown shoes, Delaney got to work, vigorously shaking 11 hands. One member of the crowd was immediately impressed with the 56-year-old.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/aug/19/john-delaney-iowa-2020-presidential-campaign-democrat

[JI7]

1. wealthy people tend to have huge egos

[IrishEyes]

2. Sadly, he has been running the longest of the democratic candidates.

He was the first to announce his candidacy in July 2017. I have nothing against him but maybe he should consider moving on to something else. I don't see the presidency in his future. He is still young enough at 56 to do many other things.

[JI7]

3. he is already serving in Congress

i think he is just bored

[George II]

5. Actually he no longer is a Congressman, he didn't run for re-election last year...

...to "concentrate on his Presidential campaign". That wasn't a smart decision.

[JI7]

7. yeah, bad decision.

[Algernon Moncrieff]

15. Larry Hogan is term limited for 2022

Delaney should shift gears and start looking at the Maryland governorship.

[mcar]

4. He was given far too much time at the debates

MSM gave him the role of a moderate contender.

[George II]

8. I was hoping after the last debate some of our candidates would face reality....

....and decide to withdraw.

Unfortunately only two have done so. There's a half-dozen or more others who aren't going anywhere and it would be good for all of us if they would drop out.

I guess now we'll have to wait until after the September debate.

[wolfie001]

9. He loves to reminisce about his Union daddy

Meanwhile, his "pragmatic" self is a blue dog DINO!

[theaocp]

10. What other good could he have done with that money?

What a waste.

[brooklynite]

11. 11 people is perfectly reasonable for a small town event in the early months.

Especially if you're not one of the well-known candidates.

[sacto95834]

14. Hear, hear

If the town only has a population of 100, getting 11 is really good.

[Chellee]

12. I hope someone from his campaign reads DU.

<Delaney had almost immediately been interrupted by a man wearing a Vietnam cap.

The man complained about veterans’ hospitals. Delaney, hoping to appease him, said he would allow veterans to visit a wider range of hospitals for their care. The man in the cap said that was exactly the plan he was opposed to. Delaney said he would talk to him about it later, then carried on with his speech. The man in the cap slumped in his chair, mumbling something to himself.>

So, did he talk to him later? I mean seriously, there are 11 people there, can't you interrupt your stump speech to answer a real question? I'm sure he didn't talk to him, because the people want the opposite of what he's promising. Give up Mr. Delaney, we've heard your ideas, we don't agree with them.

[sacto95834]

13. Does he serve food at his events?

Maybe he should, he would probably get a good turnout then....

[book_worm]

16. On the other hand he got 9 more attendees than Steve King did at his town meeting.

[elocs]

17. For the long shot wannabe candidates it's all about ego.

They believe that only they have the answers to our problems.