Democratic Primaries
Related: About this forumWhy Kamala Harris Hasn't Caught Fire in the Democratic 2020 Race
BloombergYet despite a shot of adrenaline after confronting front-runner Joe Biden in the first debate, she has failed to catch fire with Democratic voters who are torn between a nostalgic fondness for Biden and a revolutionary desire for Bernie Sanders or Elizabeth Warren.
Harriss attempt to replicate her feat in the second debate backfired among Democrats who say she went too negative on Biden. The Californian also suffers from a perception that she lacks a deep ideological well to guide her policy ideas, in contrast to her three main rivals who are better-defined. And her past as a prosecutor has earned her supporters and detractors.
Harris and Senator Cory Booker really went after Vice President Biden -- it rebounded to their detriment that they went after Biden so much. Because it also looked like they were not just going after Biden, but they were going after the Obama legacy, said Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, which is neutral in the primaries.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Tarheel_Dem
(31,232 posts)differently now. If he were to choose her, I would accept his decision, but reluctantly. I do think she'd make a great AG.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
katmondoo
(6,454 posts)I thought they were both using outdated material against Joe Biden. Times change and opinions change over the years. Mine have and so have politicians.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
George II
(67,782 posts)...is "racist" or not supportive of racial equality.
Bad issue upon which to attack Biden.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
crazytown
(7,277 posts)Of all the things to challenge Obama's VP about, racism was not one of them, to put it mildly.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
treestar
(82,383 posts)they played at being offended at the mere mention that there were segregationist Senators in those days and that one could work with them on some issues. Issues of those days. And tried to make it personal too (she was a little girl Biden of all people in that Senate, was "hurting." Later when her push back at Tulsi was like "I am a higher tier candidate than she is" reminds me of Marcia Brady claiming to be more popular, it seemed this person has a lot of growing up left to do, even at 54.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Thekaspervote
(32,755 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Skya Rhen
(2,701 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
ReformedGOPer
(478 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
emmaverybo
(8,144 posts)and tactics. She could have challenged Biden in a more straight forward way, without the corny theatrics and also responded to Gabbard without going low.
I think she damaged her own image. Now she needs to show her grit AND integrity in the upcoming debate as well as work to gain, authentically and in her own right, more AA support.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Jane Austin
(9,199 posts)I was thinking drama queen, but that is too demeaning.
The "corny theatrics" really bothered me about that exchange.
She would do well to drop that.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
emmaverybo
(8,144 posts)personality or political behavior. She has presence, a certain glamor, wonderful speaking voice, and
an ability to carry off a dramatic moment that most politicians are simply not up to. So I would mean Diva in a good sense too.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
highplainsdem
(48,968 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
hlthe2b
(102,225 posts)went too far"... Yup. I think she and Booker are more attuned to younger African Americans on the West Coast and NE, but far less so--especially with middle age and older black populations-- of the South.
It is understandable that they might think they KNOW how these populations will react, but there is no monolith of opinions within racial, gender, or ethnic groups and certainly not across age cohorts. Ditto across regions of the country. Thinking otherwise is a serious mistake for any of the candidates.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
George II
(67,782 posts)....once people looked into it and found that her position wasn't too far from Biden's. And then word of that "I was that girl" tshirt that was ready for sale hours after the debate came out, and in only about a week her poll results were right back down where they started.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Kahuna7
(2,531 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Kurt V.
(5,624 posts)Obama's legacy. Its natural to do it, i suppose.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
hlthe2b
(102,225 posts)Are you deriding Obama or Biden or both?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Kurt V.
(5,624 posts)biden is but a tiny fraction of Obama's legacy but is getting lopsided credit imo
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Kahuna7
(2,531 posts)and with foreign affairs. Remember, Obama only had two years in the senate when he was elected. He needed Biden's extensive knowledge (which he still has ) to keep the country afloat during the Great Recession.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
That was what showed Obama was really smart. One of his good decision IMO.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
emmaverybo
(8,144 posts)opinion does not match reality. In awarding Biden the medal of freedom and heaping praise upon him, Obama was not merely waxing sentimental.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Kahuna7
(2,531 posts)see the pieces over the weekend about how Biden delivered the three gop needed to get the stimulas package passed. That was a BFD.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Kurt V.
(5,624 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Kahuna7
(2,531 posts)This is the Ron Klain oped that ran on Friday:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2019/04/30/joe-biden-decency-heal-americas-wounds-after-trump-column/3616672002/
Joe Biden was the person who got those three yes votes and got the bill passed. As a result, America reversed its downward spiral and made huge investments in clean energy, new roads, electric cars, tax relief for working class families, and help for those in need with expanded food stamps. The president put Biden in charge of what was the largest domestic program since the New Deal; he hit every target for getting the aid out quickly and without waste.
But if Biden knows how to win Republican votes to get things done, he also knows how to deliver change against implacable opposition. He played a key role in working with Obama and Democratic congressional leaders to pass the Affordable Care Act (an achievement he memorably called a BFD), helping to hold Democrats together and defending them against GOP attacks. He took on and beat the NRA twice in shepherding the Brady Bill and the assault weapons ban to passage.
And make no mistake: Bidens soft heart toward people in need is matched with an iron will when needed. Unlike Trumps groveling to dictators, Biden traveled to the Balkans and called dictator Slobodan Milosevic a war criminal to his face. He confronted Russian President Vladimir Putin in person in the Kremlin. He would repair our relations with our allies and restore the dignity of the presidency on a global stage.
Then there was this tweet from Michael Grunwald of Politco which also address the accusation that Biden is surely in his dotage for believing he can work with republicans.
Link to tweet
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Demsrule86
(68,552 posts)gone after Pres. Obama once or twice at least. Biden played a very important role...and consider his role in LGBTQ rights. I fail to understand why EW should be the nominee when she doesn't poll well with the AA commuinty nor moderates...she will not have widespread appeal in the general. It is my opinion that she will not be the nominee even if she ekes out a win in New Hamshire or Iowa...two small white states who should not choose our nominee.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
mainstreetonce
(4,178 posts)And I would love to see her as VP.
I hope she picks up support again.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
democratisphere
(17,235 posts)Last edited Tue Sep 3, 2019, 09:54 AM - Edit history (1)
Voters are sick of attacks.
KG and KH now know THIS.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
vlyons
(10,252 posts)The #1 problem in this country is the corruption of money, Wall St money, oil money, corporate money, gun money, anti-union money, big pharma money, dark money. It's money that suppresses the vote, money that fuels divisiveness, money that demonizes minorities, money that promotes a religious theocracy, money that sells us poison, money that pollutes our environment.
It's the corruption, stupid. And it is why I support Elizabeth Warren.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
treestar
(82,383 posts)or "playing hardball" which is supposedly what successful people do. That rewards bullies.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
LincolnRossiter
(560 posts)in the second. She rubbed a lot of people waaaay wrong. It should have been enough to draw a contrast with Biden concerning visions and policies going forward. There are meaningful distinctions to highlight. But this lets drag up old shit and carefully imply something unflattering about Bidens racial history didnt fly in the end. Taking on Obama certainly didnt help.
Love to see her as AG, but wouldnt want her on the ticket if I were Biden.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Skya Rhen
(2,701 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
emmaverybo
(8,144 posts)knowledgeable as was Biden. It is a tall order. But Biden does not have to confine his choices to those running in the primaries.
For one, there are many women of color in the senate with ample qualifications and accomplishments. Joe knows a lot of women in politics across the nation. I hope, and think it likely, he will put diversity on the ticket.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)I expected her to have a strong, ethical and extremely competent, well thought out position on this hugely important issue.
Instead she endorsed razing the ACA and starting over from scratch with MfA, which to my mind is so foolish and hurtful as to suggest incompetence and raise ethical questions. The ONLY reason to do that would be if the ACA were legally destroyed in a way that left MfA still viable. But the way its brand name caught fire is the biggest reason candidates associated themselves with it. Sanders, who started it of course, has his own personal reasons, whatever they all are.
Then she wobbled on that.
She hurt herself by criticizing Biden too much, but one only knows how this stuff will fly afterward and she had to do something to break out. So interesting that going after the front runner aggressively may have hurt Booker just as much as it did the female candidate.
She's still on my list, and he, but I'm disappointed. Klobuchar is not as liberal as me, but she is acceptably liberal and progressive, and I wish she'd move up. She's earned a reputation for knowing what she stands for and for being able to achieve it.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
emmaverybo
(8,144 posts)take away employer provided insurance, she said no, that she would simply remove the employer
from the private insurance. What a way to finesse an answer.
She knows very well that if one has to get insurance for oneself, an individual plan as opposed to group, equivalent coverage costs so much more in premiums, drug costs, and deductibles. Also, many employers and retirement benefits plans pay a large portion of the premium.
So her answer was a hedge.
One thing I do like is that Harris does not propose pie-in-the-sky policies and seems to have prioritized do-able plans.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
brush
(53,764 posts)and New Hampshire are over. Iowa's archaic caucus is non-democratic and NH is 1.1% African American. South Carolina's demographic is much more reflective of the Demographic Party's actual constituency (POCs being well represented) and Biden then Harris will do well there.
And shortly afterward comes Super Tuesday with Harris' home state of California included now (with its huge haul of delegates). Harris will do well there also and by then the field will have winnowed down to all but the candidates with an actual chance, and delegatesBiden, Warren, Sanders, Harris, Buttigieg.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden