I vote tomorrow in the TX primary. Persuade me to vote for your favorite candidate.

[Laelth]

SET-UP

Here I am, undecided again. Originally, I was a Beto supporter, and I said so on DU. When Beto dropped out, DU told me I was undecided. Then I decided to back Pete. The reason is simple. Sixty years of history tell me that Democrats win when we nominate someone who is young, energetic, and optimistic (JFK, Carter, Clinton, Obama). Pete fit the bill, so I went with Pete. Yesterday, Pete drops out of the race, and DU tells me I am "undecided" once again.

At this point, I truly am UNDECIDED. No joke. I do not know for whom I will vote tomorrow, and I am actively seeking your arguments and your advice. This is an uncomfortable position for me. I can not recall ever not knowing for whom I would vote the day before heading to my polling location.

MORE SET-UP

Ordinarily, I vote with my heart in the primaries to send a message to the Democratic Party regarding what I, one of its members, thinks is most important. Usually, I choose the candidate whose values and policy positions best match my own, and I cast such a vote without regard to whom I think has the best chance of winning in the GE. For example, I voted for Jesse Jackson in the 1988 Georgia Democratic primary (as did a lot of other Georgia democrats). Jesse, in fact, won the state that year. I didn't think that Jesse would end up being our nominee. Michael Dukakis got the nod, but I wanted my voice heard, and the strength of Jesse's campaign probably influenced the party's ultimate decision to nominate a true liberal like Dukakis (for better or for worse).

This year is different. As I have said many times, I think that Daffy Duck could beat Donald Trump this year if Daffy ran as a Democrat. For this reason, I have to act like my primary vote is actually my vote for President. I think it is. This decision must be made with my head and not my heart. So, help me.

QUESTION

In my opinion, three candidates are viable at this time: Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders, and Michael Bloomberg.

I am honestly torn in choosing one of these three candidates. I see weaknesses and strengths in all three. I am asking you, please, to make your best case as to why I should choose one of the three candidates that I have listed above, but beware. There is one argument that I will not hear.

DO NOT SAY that Trump will win in the GE if one of the above three candidates is nominated. I have already said that I believe ANY of these people will beat Donald Trump in the GE, and my mind will not be changed on that. Capiche?

Thank you.



-Laelth

[zackymilly]

1. Because my candidate has always been a Democrat. n/t

[Laelth]

8. LOL. I hear that. I really do. n/t

-Laelth

[Turin_C3PO]

2. My rationale for supporting Biden

is that he could trounce Trump in a landslide and he has the most governing and foreign policy experience plus his decades as a reliably liberal Senator. I agree with you that any of our candidates could beat Trump.

[Laelth]

50. Joe probably has a third of all world leaders on speed dial.

This matters a great deal to me, and I see it as one of his two great strengths—the other being his connections within the Democratic Party, itself. Joe is the better TEAM player, and I value that.

Thank you for your assistance.

-Laelth

[Walleye]

3. Joe will have a stellar cabinet

Including your man Pete. Also Joe is an honest and caring person. We need to heal our beloved country.

[Laelth]

52. Pete's endorsement of Joe matters to me.

Perhaps even moreso, Pete and Chasten Buttigieg paid a visit to Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter in Plains right before Pete made his decision to withdraw from the race and throw his support behind Biden. I suspect that a particular President whom I greatly admire gave his advice to Pete and that Pete's ultimate decision was influenced by that advice. This matters to me.

Thank you for your assistance.

-Laelth

[Gravitycollapse]

4. Sanders is the strongest supporter of the working class...

He advocates for true policy change, rather than admitting defeat before starting.

His Medicare for all plan will provide coverage to everyone, regardless of their economic circumstances. It takes power away from the massive and greedy insurance industry.

He is also a strong advocate against unjustified foreign military intervention. We need to end the massive military industrial complex that rakes in billions for defense firms at the cost of many lives.

Fundamentally, he wants to challenge corporate America’s strangle hold on our lives. Whether it’s banks that are too big to exist or companies making billions on war, he will rein them in.

[Laelth]

54. Bernie's policy positions best align with my own, no doubt.

Bernie is actually running on a "Yes, we can" platform, and I like that. It's depressing to me to see so many Democrats on this board arguing for the "No, we can't" platform. However, because I believe that a Democrat putting forward an ill-advised "No, we can't" platform can still beat Trump in November, this is not a deciding factor for me.

What I see in Sanders' campaign is the energy of the party and the future of the party. My daughter switched from Pete to Bernie. She's done with the "No, we can't" platform. In addition to his obvious appeal to younger voters, Bernie has energized the Latino vote, and I want to reward those Democrats in some way. I want to validate their hope and energy by giving them the nominee that they seem to like. Sanders' campaign offers us a unique opportunity to truly connect with the nation's growing, Latino population and secure them as active, voting members of the Democratic Party. This matters to me.

Thank you for your assistance.

-Laelth

[Gothmog]

89. I am very worried about sanders killing down ballot candidates

Real Democrats do not want Kevin McCarthy become speaker due to sanders being on the top of the ballot

Link to tweet

THE TUMULTUOUS POLITICAL CLIMATE has given fresh hope to REPUBLICANS, who were privately skeptical of TRUMP’S prediction that House Minority Leader KEVIN MCCARTHY will be the next speaker come 2021. Internal polling commissioned by the NATIONAL REPUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE showed that voters in districts targeted by both parties are skeptical of SANDERS -- his approval rating is 42%, and disapproval stands at 53% -- which they believe will help boost their candidates for the House. In these districts, voters prefer TRUMP, 48% to 43%. If SANDERS is atop the ticket, Republicans believe, they can credibly label every Democrat a socialist without fear of overreach.

[janterry]

5. I can't persuade you

but in my heart, I don't think Biden can win. The whole campaign will be about his son and alleged 'corruption.'

Biden will respond with his usual gaffe's and he will never engender the kind of enthusiasm that democrats need to win the White House.

In a weird way, even Bloomberg would be better at taking on Trump.

(though, just to add, I will likely vote for Sanders

[Laelth]

55. I think Joe CAN win, obviously.

Like you, I worry about turnout and coat-tails with Joe. Joe's support appears to be a mile wide and an inch deep. I don't see the energy and enthusiasm behind Joe's campaign that I see behind Bernie's. Admittedly, some of that energy is negative and destructive to the party, but that's a very small percentage, I think.

Bloomberg, for his part, destroys Trump's "successful businessman" persona. I think Bloomberg has the best chance to nail Trump for being the failed businessman that he actually is, and this matters to me.

Thank you for your assistance.

-Laelth

[LongtimeAZDem]

6. If you believe that Daffy Duck could beat Trump, then you are not likely to find

any argument I have compelling, as I feel that belief belies a lack of understanding of the electoral situation.

[zackymilly]

9. That's just Goofy!

[Laelth]

56. Fair enough. Thanks. n/t

-Laelth

[AkFemDem]

7. Hi! Also a Pete refugee... and I've gone Biden

To be fair to Bernie and Warren, I am a moderate so they are kind of policied out for me. Bernie specifically turns me off because he’s not even a Democrat. I resent that someone can essentially be a carpetbagger and take DNC money and resources, just by changing the letter after their name. I actually really like Warren and I did very strongly consider her, but there were several sticking points like Medicare costs I just couldn’t get past. At this point I don’t believe she’s a viable candidate anyway so I think voting for her would be a waste.

Re. Bloomberg- his history as both a republican and things like the stop and frisk thing really disturb me. I don’t like his history but I also don’t like how he barged in and tried to buy this election instead of working his tush off like everyone else.

With Biden I think we know exactly what we are getting (unlike Bloomberg) I am one who was pleased with the Obama-Biden admin so I’m happy to see it extended further. I was not impressed with his early debate efforts but the last two were solid wins for him IMO and I saw a man who could defeat Trump on a debate stage. I also think Biden like Pete truly wants party unity- and I think he will pleasantly surprise us all with his VP choice.

Oh and finally- I think Doug Jones should have “woke” us all as to how important the black American voter is to this party. Black voters have made it clear, especially southern black voters- who they will be motivated to show up and support. I don’t think we should ignore that.

[Laelth]

57. Joe dominates the African-American vote. Bernie dominates the Latino vote.

Which is more important? Which is more likely to show up and vote in high percentages if the party nominates their preferred candidate? Which is more likely to stay home if their preferred candidate isn't chosen?

I struggle with these questions. Thank you for your assistance.

-Laelth

[relayerbob]

10. Well

Bloomberg's support is thin at best, nationwide. As has proven repeatedly in the last few years, having more money doesn't guarantee a victory. Voting for him will be futile, as he'll be out soon.

If Sanders can't build a coalition to win the Democratic nomination after all these years and all these hundreds of millions of dollars, how can we expect him to be able to form one top solve healthcare or global warming, or any other major topic? As Warren pointed out (paraphrased), he's never managed to implement any of his major ideas, nor stopped anything he's been opposed. That's not the mark f a successful leader and President.

Biden shows a strong willingness to work to find real solutions to our problems and has been there. He won't need on the job training. Is he the most exciting person on Earth. No. Thank got, we already have all the excitement in DC I can tolerate. Are things going to get fixed? Yes, because he will put together a team that he will listen to and work to implement the solutions that are best for us, IMO. He's already starting by saying Buttegieg will be in his government.

I personally prefer Warren, because she mixes the best of both worlds. She has the experience of getting things done, coupled with the progressive goals of major change, but in a controlled, not chaotic manner. However, I do not believe she is viable.

I do believe there will be a significant impact in down ballot races if either Bloomberg or Sanders are the nominee. I believe there willbe a significant upside impact if Biden or Warren are the nominees

[dsharp88]

13. I agree 100%

Oddly, I, too, have been a Warren supporter from the get go. I have been thinking about this lately, as it appears my candidate won't escape Super Tuesday with enough delegates to remain viable.

While I am a progressive, I, like Liz, am a pragmatic progressive.

Although I like much of what Sanders says, he will absolutely have a negative effect on down ballot races. Bloomberg will as well from the other edge of the field.

We need to keep the House and, maybe, even eek out the Senate as well. We need Biden to do that, so that's where I'm voting next month if Warren is done.

Joe has a lot of positives. He is extremely well liked by everyone on Capital Hill, and seems to be comfortable to voters of all demographics. (Yes, that means a lot to the majority of voters who aren't as involved as us.)

Finally, there is a reason the impeached president* is most afraid of Biden, and doing his best to face Sanders. He knows his worst chance of winning is against Joe.

[Laelth]

59. I think Bloomberg's support will end up being more robust than you imagine.

I do not expect Bloomberg to drop out of the race. Why would he?

I do respect Joe's loyalty to Obama and to the Democratic Party. As I said above, Joe's probably got a third of all the world's leaders on speed dial, and this matters to me. He is a consummate team player.

I agree that there will be significant down ballot impact from any of these selections. I am honestly not sure which way it will go.

Thank you for your assistance.

-Laelth

[walkingman]

11. Everyone likes to go with a winner - I think Bernie will win Texas. He is most popular amoung

the youth of America are fed up with the establishment so-called "making things better" - they are not and are just getting worse.

[Laelth]

61. I agree that Bernie will win TX.

It's possible, but not likely, that having Bernie at the top of the ticket could deliver TX in the GE as well. Bernie has won the hearts and minds of many people within America's growing Latino population, and it's clear that the energy and the future of the party (our younger voters) are on Bernie's side, for the most part. These things matter to me.

Thank you for your assistance.

-Laelth

[musicman65]

12. You have to go

with a proven winner with the experience we need,,,no further thought required,,the soul of America is on the line

[Laelth]

69. I adore Joe's "the soul of America is on the line" pitch.

He's right, of course, but I think that any of the three candidates I listed above can restore the dignity and the soul of the republic, so this isn't exactly a deciding factor for me.

Thank you for your assistance.

-Laelth

[denem]

14. It is time for a woman president. eom

[Laelth]

68. Past time, truly. In my heart of hearts, I think America elected her in 2016.

But that's another story. Right now, I see only three, old, white men as viable: Joe, Bernie, and Mike.



-Laelth

[Celerity]

15. total Pete to the bone here, and I think Biden is the best chance to repair the nation who is left

The other person I like who is left is Warren, but she has no path. That said, a vote for her is a vote against Sanders, who I support far less than all the others, save for maybe Gabbard.

Vote your conscience, no one here can tell you what to do.

Hugz

[Laelth]

71. I appreciate your candor and support.

How much does it matter to you that Pete has, in effect, endorsed Biden?



-Laelth

[Peacetrain]

16. Laelth... follow your heart.

I am for Joe. Have been from the jump. I think he has the experience to pick up the pieces with our allies and international connections. He is a known force with them and they will trust him. We have lost so much trust on the international level because of the craziness and erratic behaviors of Trump.. and next to Elizabeth, he is the youngest.

Good luck with your choice.

[Laelth]

72. LOL. A vote for Joe is a vote for youth and vigor!

Sadly, given the viable choices before me, this is true!

I really do appreciate the fact that Joe is our best choice in terms of his extraordinary national and international connections. As I said above, I suspect Joe has a third of the world's leaders on speed dial. This matters to me.

Thank you for your assistance.



-Laelth

[Sloumeau]

17. Laelth,

Thanks for posting a very interesting post. Let's start out with your basic assumption, that Biden, Sanders, and Bloomberg could each win the nomination. So, how do you decide? Well, for me, there are two questions for any candidate.

1) Odds of winning in the General Election
2) What will he or she be able to do once he or she has won.

We are skipping question #1.

I'll do them in reverse order if that is OK.

Michael Bloomberg: He is highly intelligent. He has a good education. He has made a lot of deals. He has earned a lot of money. However, I think he might have trouble governing. Most Black people do not seem to like him because of things like Stop and Frisk. This means that he will have a strike against him from the very start from the Black community, and it might make it hard for him to get re-elected, meaning that he might only have one term to get his agenda done.

Also, being Super Rich, is he going become President, like Trump, while still having lots of investments that he can funnel money to after he gets elected, or will he sell them off? If he promises to sell things off, but he doesn't, what could we do about it?

Also, currently, the U.S. treasury is building up a massive debt because the U.S. Government is spending a lot more in taxes than it is taking in. Does anyone really believe that someone with about 60 billion bucks is going to raise taxes bigtime against himself? If not, how will we pay for things like better healthcare or more affordable college? If we keep spending like crazy without taking in taxes, what happens when the U.S. gets like Greece, where our debt is so high that we can barely pay the interest on the debt?

Also, a number of women do not seem to like him because he allegedly said a number of rude things to women, and he kept settling disputes with women with Non-Disclosure Agreements. That sounds creepy to me. That might impact his ability to have women vote for him in his second term, or to support him much in his first term.

Bernie Sanders: As I mentioned earlier, the U.S. is spending a lot more than it is taking in in taxes--about a trillion dollars a year. So, how are we going to get people in Congress to vote for a Medicare for All Program that will cost between 30 trillion and 50 trillion dollars over 10 years? Do you remember the 2010 midterms, when Democrats lost dozens of House seats because people were so angry about the individual mandate from Obamacare? How will taxpayers react when they see these big tax increases for Medicare For All and for paying for free college? Don't you think they might freak out like taxpayers did in 2010? Also, will Moderate Democrats in the House even pass these expensive bills, knowing that they might put their own House Seats in Jeopardy by doing so? Many House Democrats also fear that a Bernie Sanders nomination will make it harder for them to retain their House seats. How much of a majority will Dems have in the House if Bernie Sanders is the nominee? Also, will Democrats be able to flip the House with Bernie Sanders, and if not, how will Bernie get anything passed?

Joe Biden: Joe Spent 36 years in the Senate, and 8 years as VP. He knows how to get bills through and how to get compromises from the people in Congress. His expansion of Obamacare will be smaller than Medicare For All--and therefore easier to get passed. His free 2-year college plan will also be less expensive than Sander's free college for everyone plan, so it will also be easier to pass.

I prefer Joe Biden because I believe that he focuses on the possible instead of making pie in the sky promises that are very likely to be achieved. Politics is really about the art of the possible, not the art of the impossible. By the way, your guy, former Mayor Pete Buttigieg will be endorsing him tonight, as will Amy Klobuchar. Joe Biden unifies Democrats. That's how he gets things done.

Plus Joe has already said that there will be a place for Pete in his administration. I'm hoping that it is U.S Ambassador to the U.N. so that he can eventually be Secretary of State, and then eventually...President. It may take a few years, but Pete has time, and foreign diplomacy will prepare Pete for the White House.

If you ever want to know about the odds of each winning in a general election, let me know. Good luck.

[Lucid Dreamer]

21. You bet I want know about your estimation of their odds.

Sloumeau, I was typing my response #19 while you were writing your excellent treatise above.

Right now I am thinking:
Biden 40%
Bloomberg 25%
Sanders 15%

How far off do you think I am?

[Sloumeau]

25. Currently, I am pretty much in agreement with 538.com

[link:https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2020-primary-forecast/?ex_cid=rrpromo|]

Initial numbers (without Bloomberg as Kingmaker)

67% chance we have a contested convention
17% chance Biden gets a majority of delegates
16% chance Sanders gets a majority of delegates
0.1% chance Bloomberg gets a majority of delegates.

Most likely delegate count by the first ballot at the convention (without modification):

Sanders: 1,554
Biden: 1,520
Bloomberg: 603
Warren: 262
Gabbard: 2

However, I do subscribe to the possible "Kingmaker" scenario, whereby Bloomberg chooses either Sanders or Biden to make the nominee. Most likely I think that Bloomberg will make Biden "King" (President) because he will not want all of Sanders' taxes placed on his $60 billion. Therefore, Biden's delegates + Bloomberg's delegates = 2123, which will give Biden the nomination. Plus Biden will get a lot of the more than 700 unpledged Delegates. I think that in the long run, Sanders' goose may be cooked.

What will Bloomberg get for his kingmaking? probably $billions in government infrastructure contracts, and maybe an ambassadorship to China.

[Lucid Dreamer]

31. What are your thoughts on the chance of each of those entries to win the General Election? nt

[Sloumeau]

37. Who has the best chance to beat Trump?

In order:

1. Biden
2. Warren
3. Bloomberg
4. Sanders

There is only one Democratic Socialist in the Senate, out of 100 Senators
There are only 3 Democratic Socialists in the House ot of 345 House members.

That's one percent in the Senate and about 0.7% in the House. Why are there so few? Because it is as hard as hell for a Socialist to get elected in America. In addition, those Socialists who actually got elected only got elected in the bluest of blue districts or states. Odds of a Democratic Socialist like Bernie Sanders winning the White House? About *zero*.

Bloomberg would not do much better. Black people hate him for the racism of Stop and Frisk. Brown people probably don't like him either. How can a Democrat win the general election if Brown people and Black people don't like you?

Biden and Warren both have a decent shot at winning. Warren, being a woman, means that she can take advantage of the roughly 20 point advantage that Democrats can get as part of the gender gap over Republicans. However, Warren could be crucified by how expensive her plans are, and her numbers for Medicare For All don't add up. So, I think she would have a harder time to win against Trump than Biden.

Trump was so desperate to find dirt on Biden, because he would be Trump's toughest competitor, that he had to try and extort Ukraine to make up a phone investigation against Biden. Biden has the best shot to win against Trump, and he has the best chance of actually pushing legislation through Congress because of his 35 years in the Senate and his 8 years as VP.

[Laelth]

80. I don't think brown and black people are as opposed to Bloomberg as you imagine.

Otherwise, I think you are right except for this point. Bloomberg won’t oppose higher taxes. Dude is 78, and he knows he can’t take his $62 billion with him. At this point he’s working on his legacy. He’s trying to do something good with his money before he checks out.

I have the sneaking suspicion that Bloomberg, if elected, could be a truly transformative, liberal President.



-Laelth

[ancianita]

92. What?? Only a sneaking suspicion? Can't sell you, but I do believe that Warren's the kickass part

of any Democratic ticket.

[StevieM]

36. I don't see Bloomberg or Warren doing that well.

I think they will both do poorly tomorrow and exit the race within a day or two.

I cannot begin to describe how sickened I am by the thought of Tulsi Gabbard actually winning delegates to the Democratic National Convention.

[Sloumeau]

38. Tulsi would about like 2 delegates.

That's like winning a participation trophy just for showing up. It's nothing.

[Moderateguy]

41. Bloomberg hasn't really hidden the fact that

He got in the race to stop Sanders/Warren being the nominee so I don’t see any situation under which he backs Sanders

[Laelth]

77. That is a beautiful and thoughtful response.

Thank you. I will consider what you have said.



-Laelth

[LakeArenal]

82. Love that idea of Pete at UN

[zackymilly]

18. Well, since I'm the only one you responded to, you know what you gotta do. n/t

[Laelth]

81. I was drinking, reading, pondering, and pacing.

Your reply made me laugh (because it’s true), so I responded immediately.

This morning, I am trying to touch base with others who have tried to help me with this decision.

Still, I thank you.



-Laelth

[zackymilly]

83. My reason should be all you need to make up your mind! n/t

[Lucid Dreamer]

19. I cannot ask you to vote for my favorite because she is already out of the race.

But I would suggest you vote for Biden because I estimate he has the best chance of the candidates to beat trump.
However, my own [admittedly pessimistic] evaluation of any of these winning the GE is less than 50%.

My estimations are:
Biden 40%
Bloom 25%
Sanders 15%

I think the Democratic Party blew its chances of winning by its terrible debate/selection process.
They should have had this pretty much decided back in December with a process and message that would have given us some chance of picking up needed voters from past republican supporters. Ain't happening now.

[Laelth]

85. Be at peace.

My gut tells me any Democrat can beat Trump in 2020. We will be OK. Lots of Democrats stayed home in 2016 because they assumed that Hillary had the election in the bag. I don’t think that Democrats will make the same mistake again. Trump is the only President ever, in the history of modern polling, to never reach 50% popularity. The numbers say we will win in November.

The question for me, now, is whom (of our viable candidates) do I want to win?

Thank you for your assistance.

-Laelth

[ucrdem]

20. vote for the guy with the most rubber left on his tires

[Laelth]

87. True. Joe is the youngster!

-Laelth

[dustyscamp]

22. Pick either Biden or Sanders please

Say no to Doomberg

[MoonlitKnight]

26. +1

If you aren’t going to vote for the one who has been delivering haymakers and cleared the field, then vote for Bernie or Biden.

Me, I want the person who will knock Trump the F out worse than she did Bloomberg.

[Vivienne235729]

23. Bloomberg has yet to really begin. So he is still kind of an X factor.

Between Bernie or Biden, BIDEN hands down. He's got the AA vote and will do well across the spectrum. He's not a niche candidate with volumes of opposition information to sift through during the general.

[LaelthsDaughter]

24. FEEL THE BURN

This took me a bit to think about and it was a tough decision. I support Burnie. I think you should vote for Burnie for multiple reasons.

1: Burnie has the most liberal policy. He doesn’t attack the 2nd amendment. He whole heartedly believes in his policy and will do what he can to get it done.

2: Burnie has the most momentum. Burnie is surging because people and I quote, “Like what he has to say.” Burnie appeals to people and he will need support to move forward. If he is to beat Joe in the primary he needs as much support as he can get.

3: Burnie has managed to pull many latinos into the voting pool. They are showing up to vote. If we want that continued support in the party we need to elect the candidate they are showing up for. I have many friends and the families of these latino friends who all are going to vote for Burnie. If we want them to vote with us again in mass your vote for Burnie will help us as democrats.

In 2016 if I could have voted I would have voted for Burnie. I would have voted for Hilary against Trump, but Hilary didn’t repressnt me like Burnie. Burnie has always supported the right ideas and it’s time we give him validity instead of saying it’s too difficult.

Thank you for listening! ^.^

[tirebiter]

27. Would a Beto endorsement help clarify

Or prioritize?

[Laelth]

64. A Beto endorsement would help me a great deal.

I am unaware whether or not Beto has endorsed anyone at this point.



-Laelth

[dumptrump1]

28. I value consistency, past accomplishments and where their money comes from

VA reform was a big deal that Bernie was able to accomplish by working across the aisle with McCain when bernie was the VA Senate chairman. He also worked with one of the most conservative Republicans to address the war in Yemen and our involvement there. Besides that, he does not take money from corporations or billionaires, which would increase the chances of him giving his due diligence towards these policies. He is also sincere, kind in his every day demeanor, and so far winning a diverse coalition of voters.

[Karadeniz]

29. There are republicans who don't like Trump and could be persuaded if they understood just how

Incompetent and anti democracy he is. Sanders will scare them. I think Biden has the best chance.

[Meadowoak]

30. Vote for Bernie, our planet is at stake!

[Blue_true]

32. If you can't make up your own mind, there is nothing that I can say that will.

But, I will take a shot with one sentence. Think ahead to 3 years from now, who would you be most comfortable with as President?

[2naSalit]

33. What our country needs

immediately following inauguration is for the new president to be able to jump into the driver's seat while the vehicle is careening toward a cliff.

Biden has that ability and skill to do just that. He also has some long coattails, he can bring the Senate and House we need into office with him. It's far more possible for Biden than anyone else on the ticket.

I know I am showing Warren as my choice but I would vote for Biden without hesitation if it mattered in my state.

[Laelth]

75. Biden does have that ability, and that matters to me.

That's not the only thing that matters to me, however, but I hear you, and I appreciate your kind assistance.

-Laelth

[2naSalit]

78. Well, you asked.

They way I see it is... none of the other concerns matter if the point I made doesn't happen first. We are heading toward the end of the US of A and if we don't stop the blast over the cliff, what matters after we launch over the edge? It's coming up fast 'cause the folks driving right now have the pedal to the metal, fullscream ahead.


That's about the only concern any of us should have as far as I can imagine. I'm sure you will make the choice that feels best for you.

[customerserviceguy]

34. Like you

I was for Pete before he dropped out. We could do a lot worse than the person who led the Obama administration in the right direction on equal marriage.

Also, Pete charmed me with saying that beating Trump is not enough, we need someone who is prepared to unify the country after the election. I find Joe Biden to be just such an individual.

Simply reversing Trump's executive orders is not enough. Joe Biden has the knowledge of how things work in Congress to actually accomplish legislative goals, even if he doesn't have Democratic supermajorities. No, they won't be as lofty as some have proposed, but they will be doable.

All the best on your decision.

[Laelth]

76. Completely reasonable and fair. Thank you. n/t

-Laelth

[marlakay]

35. I am voting for Liz

But of those choices would choose Bernie and here are my reasons why.

I used to listen to him every Friday morning on the radio before he ran first time for president, it was brunch with Bernie on Thom Hartman’s show. Before that being from west coast I had no idea who he was. But week after week I got to clearly hear him talk about what he believed in and why. And like people have said he hasn’t changed.

He wants to fix the environment, healthcare, childcare and he is tired of the government only working for the rich in this country.

Yes he is older but they all are the 3 you have chosen and hopefully whoever wins will pick a younger VP.

If people are truly worried about the economy of spending too much with Bernie then why aren’t they out in the streets now with Trump? Who has spent more than anyone?

I would vote for the others in the general but both are connected to big corporations and banks and I am trying to make the world better for my grandkids. Would love to see them have a job where they could afford healthcare, college and a vacation to enjoy life.

If Liz drops out before OR votes I will be voting for Bernie.

[C_U_L8R]

39. Of your three, Vote for the Democrat.

And if you liked the Obama years, you're gonna love the next 8 with Joe.

[Laelth]

63. Joe has shown a willingness to move left with the party.

I value that flexibility in a politician. Honestly, the Obama years were not great to me. I am much worse off now that I was in 2009, but I don't fault Obama for that. Obama/Biden/Clinton/Kerry were great at foreign policy, and they kept energy prices low. In the 40 days he had to work with in 2009, Obama got the ACA passed, and that was a remarkable and historic feat--one that guaranteed some health care rights that the Republicans will never be able to take away.

For his part, I think that Joe can be an effective and even a liberal president if we can take the Senate and then abolish the filibuster, but can a Joe candidacy deliver the Senate? I don't know. I certainly trust Joe to handle foreign relations, and that matters a great deal to me. We and our allies are in the same boat together, and I suspect that many of our allies would prefer to have Joe as our nominee. He offers the world the best opportunity for things to "get back to normal," so to speak.

Thank you for your assistance.

-Laelth

[C_U_L8R]

66. I adore Elizabeth too

I just wish she did better. She rose up by capturing the Sander's position but he took it right back with his awful divide and conquer strategy. I think she may have done better more toward the center - but that too was stuffed with too many contenders. It really is quite a challenging chess match.

[Laelth]

73. Elizabeth rocks. I suspect AOC's endorsement of Bernie, not Elizabeth, made a world of difference.

If you noticed, Elizabeth's numbers started to drop off and Bernie's started to climb immediately following that endorsement.

We were cursed by a very deep bench this cycle.



-Laelth

[tavernier]

40. Jill Biden.

My family are teachers.

[Laelth]

62. Jill rocks. That matters to me too. Thank you. n/t

-Laelth

[OBrien]

42. Beto endorsed Biden

Beto knows you can’t win Texas by claiming you’ll ban fracking.

[Laelth]

74. Thank you. I didn't know that.

Bernie is awfully strong in TX. I doubt that any of the three candidates that are viable will carry the state in the GE, but, of the three, I think that Bernie has the best shot. Still, Beto's endorsement of Biden matters to me.



-Laelth

[kwenu]

43. I'll be voting in Texas tomorrow myself for Joe Biden!

I just don't believe in Bernie's purist socialist ideology. I do believe in a mixed socialist/capitalist economy. I love Warren's 2% (or so) billionaires tax. I want common sense government that cares about improving the lives of common people and opening opportunity up for all. I have no doubt that Biden will be sensitive to climate change issues.

I want a president that seriously listens to everyone and makes common sense decisions. I have no intention of replacing one inflexible autocrat loving president of the hard RIGHT with an inflexible autocrat loving president of the hard LEFT. Castro was a murderous dictator. Castro's improving the literacy rates of his people by teaching them to read with Castro selected government propaganda doesn't deserve a kudos from an American President. Maduro would rather starve the Venezuelan people to death instead of admitting the socialist revolution needs some adjustment or instead of just holding a fair election. Maduro doesn't deserve our support, the Venezuelan people do---short of military intervention.

I sense a strong surge for Biden in Texas and wouldn't be surprised at all if he takes it. I don't know anyone who gives a damn about Bloomberg anymore.

In any case, I wish you luck in your decision but just so you know...I'm going Joe!

[Stallion]

44. Vote Biden So Ruth Bader Ginsburg Can Take a Well-Earned Retirement

….Biden is the only candidate who can drag enough Senators to retake the Senate

[Demsrule86]

45. Vote for Biden...he can beat Trump and maybe have coattails down ballot in Texas.

[counting]

46. instead of persuading you, let me leave you a quote

"Never before in all our history have these forces been so united against one candidate as they stand today. They are unanimous in their hate for me—and I welcome their hatred.”

― Franklin D. Roosevelt

https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/341687-we-had-to-struggle-with-the-old-enemies-of-peace-business

[Happy Hoosier]

47. Joe Biden has a very important quality....

He likes people, and people like him. He will be able to build coalitions to actually accomplish some things. Bernie has a history of burning bridges and pissing people off. Bloomberg is an old school Republican running as a Democrat.

Just my thinking with the folks who still have a chance. And of course, both your previous picks were endorsing Joe tonight. That’s gotta count for something.

[SiliconValley_Dem]

48. Joe is unifying the party and the country. We need Uncle Joe to restore harmony

[TomSlick]

49. Beto answered your question very well a few minutes ago.

At the Biden rally in Dallas.

[Laelth]

84. I heard about Beto's endorsement of Biden just this morning.

This does matter to me. Thank you.

-Laelth

[TomSlick]

94. His speech last night was very moving.

I cannot imagine a more heartfelt endorsement.

[samnsara]

51. just vote for YOUR favorite candidate in the Primary...vote allllll blue in the General...

[robbedvoter]

53. I don't have a favorite candidate. But Beto (whom I liked) endorsed Biden

for the same reason I'll probably vote for him: get the party together, beat 🍊, take back the Senate. I's respect Beto's choice.

[Joinfortmill]

58. Vote for the candidate you believe will beat Trump

and cast a vote for democracy.

[Laelth]

60. All three can beat Trump, I think, and none of them is a fascist.

A vote for any of the three candidates I listed is a vote for democracy, in my mind. So, I am still undecided.



-Laelth

[Hortensis]

65. The best to DEFEAT the Repub-Russia plot against us of course.

Link to tweet

Bless his heart, Trump believes Democrats are as stupid as he really is.

[karynnj]

67. I am in the same situation as you - though voting in Vermont

On 538, there is only one poll - several weeks old. It does not help me choose between Warren and Biden. In that poll, only Bernie is above 15%, but he is nowhere near the 86% he got in 2016. The closest is Buttigieg, who polled at 13%. Warren is higher than Biden, but both are in single digits, with Warren higher. Given the last few weeks, it is likely that BOTH could be higher. (Also, there was some undecided in that poll.) The poll does not reflect Warren's take down of Bloomberg or the stream of Biden endorsements. It is possible that either or both could get above 15%.

I am undecided because I really like Warren on corruption. For a while, a second reason was that she, though limited by a Congress that will not pass many things she speaks of, she would push Congress to get the last inch possible. At this point, I question whether Biden, with his three decade plus time in the Senate, chairing committees where they crafted big bills - including whole stand alone programs as provisions - designed to get the votes needed. It is clear that Obama respected his skills here and he was a top emissary to Congress - if not the top one. Given where even the 51st vote in the Senate is, BOTH Biden and Warren are to the left and on most issues pushing in the same direction, I wonder if what they would get out of Congress might be quite similar.

So, what is the best vote to lead to either of these people becoming the nominee? Obviously, keeping Bernie from getting 100% of VT's votes helps on this. Questions to myself - Do I assume that with the people who dropped out, both will likely get past 15%? Is one more likely than the other? Warren was higher, but Biden almost had a mini Democratic convention with the endorsements in Texas last night. With no data, it is a judgment call which vote is less likely to be wasted by being under 15%.

VT has relatively few delegates - so it will clearly not be a big topic of conversation tonight. It may be the first to report, but that will likely just be to call the state for Bernie. We vote on paper ballots, so it usually is pretty fast. Only later at night will the delegate numbers be determined. Any delegates won by Warren or Biden - help stop Bernie. In addition, delegates won by Biden count twice in terms of Bernie Sanders lead (subtracted from Bernie, added to Biden). VT's numbers are very small, but what if Bernie losing some in VT makes the difference of being above 100 ahead and below 100 - is that a change that is psychologically important. Would Bernie doing less well than in 2016, make a difference.

Still thinking.

[Nanjeanne]

70. You deserve a President who's vision stands for the country you want to live in.

We shouldn’t be persuading you. We are voters. You know what the candidates stand for. Primaries are YOUR choice. No one has a magic 8 ball. No one know who is going to win and arguing that way is specious.

You are an informed voter. VOTE for YOUR vision.

[duforsure]

79. Ok

Biden already failed against protecting us against Putin, trump, and Moscow Mitch, also his ACA health plan costs a lot more than M4A does, and he often makes mistakes. Bernie I like but he has health issues, and also gets easily confused and angry at times. Warren is the best candidate because she is smarter than both of them together are, and she would go after trump better than either one would, and she would be the most trusted for the middle class . It's time a woman who is more than capable be voted into the top position. Joe failed protecting the last election, why should he get another chance?

[snowybirdie]

86. Not to be snarky

but why do I have to do something you can do for yourself? Study, think and decide. And vote your conscious. Good luck!

[nini]

88. I have never allowed anyone to influence how I vote

I do my own research, gauge the political climate and make the right decision.

I honestly don't get people who are undecided at this point.

[Gothmog]

90. Listen to Beto

Link to tweet

[we can do it]

91. Biden for the win.

[Laelth]

93. My decision is made.

My sincere thanks to all who tried to help.

This has been, without question, the most difficult voting decision that I have ever made.

I will explain my decision in a new thread, later today, after I vote.



-Laelth

[tavernier]

95. I did see your vote on another post.

Congrats on deciding on your nominee!

Just promise me that you’ll vote for Joe in the general!

[Laelth]

96. This evening is demonstrating that Joe may actually walk into the convention with a majority.

Naturally, I will be honored to vote for the real team player, the loyal Democrat, the one who has the leaders of one third of the nations on Earth on speed-dial. Joe has his strengths and appeal. I will be honored to have him serve as my President, and I will vote for him in the GE if he is our nominee, without question.



-Laelth