Who would you vote for if a Democratic primary were held today?

[El Supremo]

I keep hearing some DUers saying "sure he isn't making me 100% happy but who would be better than Obama?"

Well, I'm throwing out some names for a straw poll. Here are some of the most progressive people in congress. Would you vote for any of these over Obama?

[vroomvroom]

1. Feingold, Weiner, and Grayson are probably the only Democrats that won't sell the people out

[vaberella]

6. Yes, you say that now. Until they're in power it's another story. n/t

[CakeGrrl]

8. Until they actually took office and had to govern as the Chief Executive. n/t

[fried eggs]

11. Grayson the millionaire...

Yeah, I'm sure he would crack down on big business despite being a part of that culture himself!!!

[Name removed]

47. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[zalinda]

53. He made most of his money suing Blackwater.

From Wiki:

"The Iraq war contractor fraud case brought Grayson his first national attention.<11> In 2006, a Wall Street Journal reporter described Grayson as "waging a one-man war against contractor fraud in Iraq" and as a "fierce critic of the war in Iraq" whose car displayed bumper stickers such as "Bush lied, people died".<12> Grayson made a "substantial fortune by suing military contractors".<13> Ironically, he was later rescued by contractors working for Xe Services (formerly Blackwater) during a coup in Niger.

zalinda

[Freddie Stubbs]

28. Feingold and Grayson were rejected by the voters whom they represented

And Weiner represents a district which hasn't elected a Republican since the 1920's.

How about a candidate who can get independent voters, like

Barack Obama?

[treestar]

57. I could believe that, but I also think they would get nothing done

It would all be taking a stand and vetoing even liberal bills for not being liberal enough.

The voters in general could well get tired of that and vote Republicans back in.

[JoePhilly]

2. Let the mastabatory fantasy begin.

:popcorn:

[Ter]

3. Whoever's running?

n/t

[Shiver]

4. A different other.

Someone who is capable of winning the national election. I love Russ, he was my favourite senator, but I don't think he could win a national election. Not yet.

Kucinich... meh. Talks a big game, and I like what he has to say (sometimes), but doesn't get anything done.

Don't know much about the others.

[El Supremo]

7. That is for another poll.

I'm thinking of doing a follow-up.

[On the Road]

5. I Would Vote for Howard Dean

[bigwillq]

9. I would vote for several of those over Obama.

And for a few more who aren't on the list.
I haven't voted for the Democratic who went on to win the nomination in the last four primaries. That's a trend that will likely continue for me.

[damntexdem]

10. It's not that no one is better -- Feingold is, for one.

It's that Obama's reelection will keep a Repuke from being elected. A successful primary challenge will produce a Dem very likely to lose.

[Kurmudgeon]

20. It's more important keeping the GOP out of power than any personal preference.

I was a big backer of Hillary and still like her quite a lot, however, once it became obvious the tide had turned, it was time to back up the Dem nominee and I have been quite happy with Mr. Obama ever since. At least the Bush Junta and their operatives got booted.

[dennis4868]

12. Just so you all know....

If you look at some of Feingold's votes, he is not such a progressive....if Obama had voted like Feingold you would all be yelling from the rooftops....I know I know...Obama is held too a different standard for whatever reason....

[Solomon]

31. Aw, you know what the reason is.

Dare not speak it.

[Forkboy]

44. You should have the guts to say it if you really believe it.

[Tesha]

13. It's a shame DU software doesn't support "approval" voting.

Boxer has my support any time she decides to run,
even in 2012.

And I could see myself supporting several other
folks on that list so I would have loved to have
seen who has the broadest "approval" on DU.

Obama? There's no way I'll be voting for him in
the New Hampshire Primary. I didn't do it in 2008
and he's only gotten far worse since then. I'll
find someone to his left, hopefully *FAR* to his
left to vote *FOR*.

Tesha

[RichGirl]

14. I would vote for the Reluctant Warrior....

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/03/29/3176608.htm

I trust him.

[NorthCarolina]

15. Hmmm... it looks like 67% of DU

have chosen a candidate OTHER than Obama, leaving 33% of DU 100% behind the president. I have read several posts on DU telling me that anywhere from 68% to 97% of LIBERALS support Obama...in fact they LOVE him...can't get enough. So, given that he is so overwhelmingly popular with Liberals, and that he has managed only 33% confidence here in this DU poll....does that mean.......GASP!!!!

"Democratic Underground (DU) was founded on Inauguration Day, January 20, 2001, to protest the illegitimate presidency of George W. Bush and to provide a resource for the exchange and dissemination of liberal and progressive ideas".

And "Liberals" apparently don't even hang out here, as apparent from the results of this very poll.

:wtf:

[El Supremo]

16. Sure looks like it.

Today anyway.

[Shiver]

33. DU isn't representative of the left.

We are a small, small sliver.

[CakeGrrl]

34. All it means is that DU remains truly "UNDERGROUND"

It's outside of not only the national mainstream, but as every poll has indicated, the national Dem/Liberal mainstream as well.

The low level of support for President Obama on this forum is an outlier.

[SkyDaddy7]

60. Exactly! nt.

[Pisces]

50. That's funny but has Feingold announced he's going to run? Maybe martians will land and want to run?

[hollowdweller]

17. Brian Schweitzer or Deval Patrick Maybe?

[mucifer]

18. I want Bernie! I know he's not a dem

:( :)

[MissDeeds]

24. I want Bernie, too

And he's a lot more left than some "Dems".

[girl_interrupted]

19. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand

I'm tired of it always being about the men. She's young, she's intelligent, she's accomplished, she's beautiful, she's progressive and she gets things done. Republicans are always touting Bachmann & Palin. Two idiots. Kirsten puts them both to shame. It's time.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

63. i think in 2016, she might really be a real contender

[vroomvroom]

21. Alan GRAYSON

[vroomvroom]

22. ANTHONY WEINER

[vicarofrevelwood]

23. Sanders!

[southernyankeebelle]

25. I would love Feingold but lets face it. He would not win to pull in the Independents.

[NorthCarolina]

26. Why? Obama ran as a populist and won the independents.

So, if independents voted for Obama because they thought he was a progressive, why wouldn't they vote for a real progressive then? That question would certainly be answered in the primaries anyway.

[DemocratAholic]

27. never gonna happen

come on, we all know nobody is going to run against obama. the democratic party infrastructure has been gutted down to the point where it exists only for one man.

i'm not saying i want anyone to run against obama, or that i can think of anyone better at this point. but this is one thing that really scares me about obama. how he took control of the party infrastructure and made it all about him. not that he personally did it, i actually think rahm emanuel was the brains behind that maneuver. but that is one reason why we performed so poorly during the mid-terms. and i fear the next election the DNC will be all about obama, and fail to do anything to help anyone but him. he has not been a good leader for the party which is my biggest disappointment about him.

[BklnDem75]

30. You mean like 2008?

Democrats swept into power with Obama heading the ticket. 2010 had nothing to do with Obama and everything to do with lazy voters who either didn't bother to vote or who didn't bother to read up on the product they were buying before making a bad purchase. Now they're stuck with it for 2-6 years. Blaming Obama is lazy. Take responsibility for your own actions, make your decision and live with it. No amount of messaging will keep me from forgetting how bad the other side is. Now people are acting surprised by the other side's actions? Really?

[DemocratAholic]

35. oh i see you are from Brooklyn

I am from Queens. Did you happen to work on Bill Thompson's 2009 campaign for New York City mayor? Do you know how many times Obama campaigned for Bill Thompson? ZERO. Z-E-R-O!!!!! Thompson lost by 4 percentage points to Bloomberg, in a city full of Obama supporters, and was outspent by $100 million. Obama's support could have won us the election, even if he did ONE simple fundraiser, or made ONE appearance, or bothered to make ONE commercial.

Here's a link to the NY Daily News article announcing Obama's BIG "endorsement" of Thompson (in which he never mentions Thompson by name, and praises Bloomberg).

President Obama endorses Bill Thompson for New York Mayor - while praising Michael Bloomberg's job
http://articles.nydailynews.com/2009-10-09/news/17937082_1_mayor-bloomberg-endorsed-new-york-mayor

"The President is the leader of the Democratic Party and, as that, would support the Democratic nominee," Gibbs said flatly when queried by the Daily News.

Gibbs seemed happier to talk up Mayor Bloomberg, whom he praised with a quote that seemed ready-made for future campaign flyers and bumper stickers.

How many times did Obama campaign for Kendrick Meeks for US Senate in Florida last year? Another candidate BEGGING for help.

Do you want me to go down the list of all the Democrats from 2010 who were begging for assistance from Obama and the DNC and never had their calls returned?

I've been working in Democratic Party politics for 25+ years, I have never seen a more lackluster effort (to put it nicely) from the "leader" of the Party...or a time when the DNC was so ambivalent about helping Democratic candidates. Obama was most interested campaigning for conservative Democrats (Blanche Lincoln) in primaries opposed by more progressive candidates. There, he finds his mojo, but not in general election when Dems are facing Republicans?

By the way, regarding your "take responsibility for your own actions," you say that like you know me. I will compare the work I have done for the Party to ANYONE. And I don't just show up for presidential or congressional elections. I've got my boots on the ground in freezing cold weather with petitions to get Democrats on the ballot, every rally, knocking on doors from dawn to dusk, you name it, I've done it, working for candidates in EVERY election, EVERY year since 1984. Please don't preach to me about taking responsibility for MY actions. My conscience is crystal clear.

I am very familiar with the DNC, and I have watched in amazement over the past two years as it was turned from an organization that helped candidates up and down the ticket, with a national message under Howard Dean...to an organization that is focused on one person...Barack Obama, and folded into his re-election campaign, while going on vindictive campaigns against any Democrat that dares to criticize him.

Unlike a lot of people here who are focused on the top of the ticket, I happen to realize that what is happening on the local level is just as, if not more, important than who wins the presidency. The "leader" of our party should certainly recognize that. Yet he doesn't campaign for the Democratic mayoral candidate for the largest city in the USA?

I am not saying this because I am some kind of Obama hater. I am saying this because I want him to get off his self-centered ass and help our party. He is not the only Democrat in this country that matters. And it would behoove him to help them!

I can't believe more people are not discussing this. I know a lot of people are aware of this, have they been so frightened by Rahm Emanuel's vindictiveness to speak up about it?

[BklnDem75]

39. Obama didn't campaign for Rahm either, so what's your point?

Like I said, lazy. Thompson lost because Obama didn't show up? Let that one sink in. How often do Presidents get involved in mayoral campaigns? Why is this one different? While Obama is back and forth trying to fix this country, you want him to pound the pavement for how many mayoral elections? How many is enough?

Presidents support incumbent Democrats. What's not to get here? Whether they lean to the left or right, the President is going to support whoever is in office NOW. I understand you're all for shooting yourself in the foot, but getting things passed requires allies. If you piss them off by campaigning for their like minded opponent, you not only lose their vote, but many incumbents who would most likely switch parties.

The rest of your rant is pretty much irrelevant because I was referring to those who either didn't vote or voted for the opposition. If you fall into that category, then you're part of the problem. And please don't tell me about lackluster because there's been no President more involved in every process of each law passed under his leadership. The problem IS laziness, but it's not from this President.

[DemocratAholic]

42. I'm not here to fight with Democrats

I resent your attempt to marginalize and insult me by characterizing my comment as a "rant." That's a trick I see far too often on this board, and I find it rather rude.

[BklnDem75]

43. It's not a rant? What would you call it?

A rant is a form of monologue or text that is presented in a passionate, often humorous tone.


Welcome to DU

[BobbyBoring]

37. 2010 had EVERYTHING to do with Obama

Every tea party douche bag that was elected was voted in by Obama haters.

Now, he's managed to piss of 1/2 his base. Talk about buyers remorse. He's still better than Palin though~

[BklnDem75]

40. Mmmm. Fact free snack cakes!

1/2 his base?! I LOL'd

[Name removed]

36. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[robcon]

29. Feingold has as much chance as Kucinich did.

He'll max out at about 4% in the primaries, like Kucinich did, IMO.

[Skip Intro]

32. Hillary.

well...that's my answer...

[emilyg]

38. Hillary, Dean, Feingold or anybody else.

[CakeGrrl]

41. What's the likelihood that ANY of this is going to come to pass? n/t

[Forkboy]

45. Brown.

Not that any of this matters.

[robcon]

48. Dean, Feingold, Grayson, Sanders, Kucinich: all unelectable

Fringe candidates don't have a chance.

[Forkboy]

49. Working that bait.

[Name removed]

46. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[El Supremo]

51. Man. the Obama supporters sure hit this poll today. Why?

His share increased from 33% to 41%. I smell something funny.

[AtomicKitten]

52. Well I was too late to vote.

That stinks.

[stevenleser]

59. The idea of voting is not doing it for you anymore, I guess?

If you suspect something is amiss with DU's polling system, I suggest you send a private message or an ask the administrators post to Skinner and/or EarlG.

[Keith Bee]

54. Barack Obama and ENOUGH ALREADY!

:argh:

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

55. Dean nt

[ChiciB1]

56. I WON'T Vote For Obama In A Primary, But I'm AFRAID I'll Have NO CHOICE

when it comes to THE GENERAL election! I get up each day with a certain amount of "depression" which has begun to affect EVERY aspect of MY LIFE!!

I've pretty much STOPPED watching many political shows, and my blogging has slowed significantly! I check in from time to time, but the knot in my stomach doesn't seem to go away!

We FINALLY got some rain down here in Florida, THAT'S the GOOD news I live with! Guess it's better than NOTHING, but with the rain came some BAD news... many people living in tent cities around here LOST most of what little they had.

There are days I have thoughts that I don't think I should be having, but even in the SUNSHINE state I see too many clouds!
:shrug:

[stevenleser]

58. Poll should only include those Democrats who are running.So far that is Barack Obama and Lee Mercer.

I'm for Barack. If you are interested in Lee, below are links

http://www.mercerforpresident2012.com/

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/mercerforpresident2012

[quiller4]

61. I live in a caucus state and I'll caucus for Obama in 2012 as I did in 2008

[hedgetrimmer]

62. Bernie Sanders

[defendandprotect]

64. Would have trouble voting for any Dem candidate part of the system... we need an outsider ...

or at the least someone like Sen. Bernie Sanders who could run on a Dem ticket --

and we need two strong anti-war candidates -- maybe someone like Tom Hayden for VP?

There are tons of democrats who can run on the Dem ticket who aren't pre-bribed and

pre-owned by corporations!!

[Cobalt-60]

65. Draft Michael Moore

He's demonstrated a complete understanding of our nations problems.
And I don't trust any professional politician ours or theirs.

[Drunken Irishman]

66. Why not add fictional names too?

Since they're about as likely to primary Obama as those listed.

[PurityOfEssence]

67. self delete

n/t

[FreeStateDemocrat]

68. I would like to have a choice other than an unchallenged coronation.