What are Democratic voters looking for in a candidate?

[kentuck]

I think almost all of our candidates are very fine people.

But do they have the message that grabs the voters?

What are voters looking for?

In my opinion, most Americans believe the country is very divided. That is a major concern to all these voters.

We believe we know the cause of this division.

Our standards for humanity have been attacked. It's a natural reaction to defend oneself.

When we believed our country was a good country. We had our flaws and our tragic wars and events that shaped our history. But, we endured. We tried to make progress, from our very sinful beginnings.

The progress we have made, unlike any place in the world, in my opinion, has been stalled.

Our very principles were attacked.

Should our candidates address this issue?

[shanny]

1. I don't think we are that exceptional

and I have ZERO desire to unite with the now obviously fascist Right.

I want a candidate who will take on catastrophic climate change with the moonshot focus it requires, and takes down the corporate PTB as a prerequisite to that. And I want that candidate to do it unapologetically visavis our opponents. Eff them: they are wrong on every question of fact, every issue for voters and every moral principle. They deserve no input.

[Autumn]

2. What matters is a candidate who is willing to take on climate change. It's not 10

or 50 years down the road. It's now. If we don't get someone to act now we won't have a country, nor possibly a planet

Yeah, we are divided but there can be no unity with those people, they have no humanity.

[Andy823]

6. Exactly

And I really think that person is Jay Inslee. Also being a governor gives him the experience to get us out of the mess trump will be leaving the country in.

[Autumn]

8. He's in my top three. Inslee, Bernie and Buttigieg. No particular order either.

I read an article about any one of the three and that one becomes my favorite.

[Perrenial Voter]

3. I'm looking for a candidate who can can initiate

policies to address climate change and inequality and win.

I think would be someone with backbone like Kamala Harris, intelligent policies like Elizabeth Warren, authenticity like Bernie Sanders, the likeability of Cory Booker or Beta O'Rourke, and the ability to appeal to working class voters like Biden has done.

I'm not sure any one candidate clearly embodies everything we need at this difficult time in history. But I hope we can push whoever the candidate is in the right direction.

[Uncle Joe]

4. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread kentuck.

[NurseJackie]

5. He (or she) should have the health and stamina and energy and mental sharpness...

He (or she) should have the health and stamina and energy and mental sharpness to be able to handle the rigors and long hours required to be the Leader of the Free World. That's what I'm looking for.

We have an abundance of riches in those who are vying for the top spot (a few duds too, but that's to be expected in almost every election) still... I believe that the cream will rise to the top, and the candidate who wins the nomination will be the one who demonstrates all the qualities I mentioned previously AND who takes seriously all the things mentioned in the OP.

[Gothmog]

7. From AMJOY

Link to tweet

?s=20

[peggysue2]

9. I'm looking for a candidate who can win decisively and . . .

who has the capability of repairing the damage the Trumpster and his acolytes have wreaked on the Republic. That's damage both domestically and abroad.

Yes, the division in the country needs to be addressed and the list of progressive issues underscored. But first and foremost is the ability to take the Trumpster to the woodshed.

Because anything less is spitting in the wind.

[emulatorloo]

10. Their messages are similar. I want a candidate that is tough, can get under Trump's skin,

Can talk eloquently about how our principles were attacked, who can talk plainly about policy and why Democratic policy will lift up America. And will be supportive of the other candidates in the primary and stick to policy rather than character assasination.

And be able to soundly defeat Trump and get more Dems elected to Congress and the Senate.

I generally support the most left leaning candidate in the primary on principle. However this time out my criteria is what I wrote above.

Undecided now I have 5 or 6 on my shortlist. I need to see how they conduct their campaigns and handle tough questions. Will see how they handle the debates. The shortlist may change as we go along. I hope to see and meet some of them in person as well.