The next Democratic nominee will not be the latest online sensation

[Yosemito]

Since the internet became very huge, these are the candidates that would have won user polls in progressive message boards such as the Daily Kos and we can include Twitter more recently.
2003/2004: Howard Dean
2007/2008: Dennis Kucinich, then John Edwards, then Obama when it became evident be would win the primary.
2011/2012: (Nobody challenged Obama, so there was no online debate).
2016/2017: Bernie Sanders.

It is extremely likely that our next nominee will not be an electrifying online darling.
Thus, Joe Biden has a good chance. and or even Bernie Sanders, who is losing ground to Beto as a super Internet sensation, has a good chance according to my no-shiny-object theory.
There seems to be an extremely important group of Democrats who go to work, come home, and go online briefly to read the news (not to Tweet hashtags or part "diaries" in online forums).
These are the ones who will chose our next nominee.

[GusBob]

1. That's not a problem

Online polls are worthless, always have been always will be. Everybody knows that

The next Dem nominee has to compete for media attention from the current loud mouth jerk whom the ratings whores love. He is their sensation

How will the media treat the next Dem nominee? Will it be like Al Gore's sweater choice? Will they swift boat him or her? Will it be her emails all over again?

That is the problem.

[Sherman A1]

2. It's early

time will tell.