If the choice were Buttigieg and Newsom, which way would you lean? nt

[LAS14]

I'm undecided. I like Buttigieg way better, but I want someone electable. Are we far enough down the marriage equality road that it's the new barrier to be shattered like Obama did with race?

[Blue Full Moon]

1. Neither

[LAS14]

8. Care to share your reasons? nt

[rollin74]

64. I agree with neither

I don’t think that either one of them can realistically win the electoral college.

[multigraincracker]

2. Mayor Pete.

[Bread and Circuses]

3. Buttigieg, but the republicans and others will not vote for him.

[travelingthrulife]

11. This is my response as well. They can't even vote for a woman yet and we are

usually majority of the population. They would not be able to see past his orientation. I hope I am proved wrong some day.

[LexVegas]

4. Newsom. nt

[LAS14]

5. Any reason other than electability? nt

[LexVegas]

15. At this point, he is a more engaging candidate for me personally. That could certainly change in the coming years. nt

[maxsolomon]

20. Is there anything else that matters?

This country is going to be a smoldering ruin, and the Dem nominee's main requirement is to be more electable than fucking JD Vance.

[Trueblue1968]

94. Newsom. To me he is the stronger of the two. I would still choose Kamala over these two gentlemen.

[JCMach1]

6. Not first course on my menu

[OLDMDDEM]

78. Josh Shapiro

[JCMach1]

86. Also Walz is an entree. Pritzker

And whoever will take with Warnock, or Booker as VP. Warnock may be a bridge too far because of the Senate.

Or, if things get as grim as I think they might Bernie Sanders on a self limited 4 years with a young progressive VP to Restore America after the debacle that's ongoing.

[awesomerwb1]

7. Neither

I do really like Pete, but this country is moving further away from the norm so quickly. I have massive, serious doubts that Pete is electable in this country. But he would be awesome touring the country doing town halls etc on behalf of the Dems (tough for him because of his young kids though).

[mvd]

9. Personal choice would be Buttigieg

And there’s something about Newsom that just gives me pause.

[LearnedHand]

38. Might it be that his very first podcast platformed a raging Nazi misogynist?

And the second episode too.

[mvd]

62. Yep

If he can’t be relied upon to support equal rights, how can we trust him?

[BlueKota]

10. Either would be good

but tbh right now I am leaning Tim Walz. I admire his willingness to hit the road and try and wake the sleeping populace up to reality.

If we still are alive and have elections in 2028, I also really hope AOC will answer the call of many to primary Chuck for his New York Senate seat.

[bamagal62]

12. Tim Walz and Gretchen Whitmer

Would be my ticket!

[brush]

36. Good ticket. Visa Versa would work for me also.

[obamanut2012]

13. Pritzker

[bamagal62]

72. Yes! I forgot about Pritzker!!!

He’s a tough cookie! I voted for him when I was living in Chicago!

[OnDoutside]

100. He is excellent but....

I remember the attacks Christie got because of his weight, and you just know the scum on the right will exploit that to the last with all that "heartbeat away" crap.

[Nanjeanne]

14. Neither. But at least I like Pete.

[stopdiggin]

16. I think the argument that Newsom is more 'electable'

is far wide of the mark. If you look around - his support anywhere outside the state - is thin to the point of being negligible.

We would be far better off with a popular midwestern governor or young gun.

[moonscape]

25. I'm a Californian & Gavin

would not be my 1st choice either

[stopdiggin]

107. there's a tiny smattering of 'populism' in there

that has a marginal draw. But far, far larger in degree and scope - is the inevitable, " Oh, sure! California fruit loops ! " jeers from the remainder of the country.

[greyl]

17. Buttigieg. He's authentic. nt

[LAS14]

39. That's the secret sauce! nt

[Easterncedar]

58. And brilliant

[maxsolomon]

18. I lean toward the person who wins the nomination.

Living in WA, it will probably be decided by the time our primary rolls around.

[oasis]

19. By 2028 Hillary would beat any Republican.

[moonscape]

26. By 2028 hopefully

you would as well!

[Melon]

111. Hillary is 77 years old and lost votes years ago due to perception of her health....

[oasis]

113. Not to worry because Hill won't run. If she

did decide to get into the 2028 race, there would be no one in the increasingly integrity challenged GOP field who could beat her.

Every Republican in the race would have the stench of Trump to deal with. It’s something they can’t avoid.

[Ping Tung]

22. Newsom. He's leftist enough for me and CA has a lot of electoral votes.

[Think. Again.]

23. Buttigieg, hands down.

[Nanuke]

24. Newsom has marriage baggage. He once married Kimberly Gargoyle.

[LAS14]

43. Which does lead one to question his judgement. nt

[bucolic_frolic]

27. We don't have a candidate to sell to small town uneducated conservative values.

We are trying to sell big ideas to small minds.

Only Obama did that. We only win when the country is rebounding from GOP foul up incumbents. It's the composition and nature of the electorate in modern times.

I don't know how you change it. We think we are a natural fit for people, because our ideas lead to good government, and they do. But try convincing people of that idea.

[leftstreet]

33. Obama was also buoyed by powerful antiwar sentiment

You make good points

[bucolic_frolic]

51. Iraq War is very valid aspect

and while I'm at it.

Would Joe Biden have won absent Trump? Was he popular as a VP, before Trump? I don't know. Did they do polls?

Democrats pitch to upper middle class voters with tax cuts, loan forgiveness, entrepreneurship. Harris $50K tax credits to start a home business. Working class folks have no idea how to sell tomatoes let alone call it a business. We ran a suburbs with sidewalks platform paired with lgbtq tolerance and it got divided by Gaza anger.

Trump ran on feel good trust me and don't you want gold sneakers. Ridiculous tangibles, but tangible nonetheless.

We're not helping working class people. We're only showing them a path up, but they don't understand it.

[BlueTsunami2018]

28. I like Pete a little better but Newsom is more electable.

Being governor of such an important state is a big time check mark on experience.

[ElementaryPenguin]

29. Newsom - because he'll win.

And I love Buttigieg.

[JohnSJ]

30. Buttigieg. I don't know about his electability, but the same applies to Newsom.

Hands down Buttigieg is much more straight forward and direct in my opinion, Newsom isn’t.

[Kali999]

31. niether

Because of his podcast. Pete would be a good vp. Bigots won't vote for him

[Kali999]

34. I actually liked both

But wtf with bannon and kirk

[brush]

32. Newsom. Have to be pragmatic given marraige equality issue..

[Emile]

35. I choose Walz.

[Scrivener7]

41. I think he's a good option. If we ever have another election.

[Polybius]

115. Round two with Vance?

Ehh.

[Beringia]

37. How about a cross between the two, NuttenigSon

[Scrivener7]

40. For President? Buttigieg is better, but Newsom is electable. We are not far enough down that road.

We have put up two unbeatable candidates who were both beaten by a malignant cheese doodle. Because both were women and one was brown.

We need a guy who could be cast in a Lifetime movie as a president. That's Newsom.

[LAS14]

42. "We need a guy who could be cast in a Lifetime movie as a president."

Given the lamentable ignorance of the American electorate, I'm afraid you're right.

[Callie1979]

77. Stuff like that has LONG mattered. Celebrity is how trump won.

Steve Forbes was MUCH smarter & had MUCh better ideas than Trump but he wasnt "known" so he stood little chance.
If Trump hadn't gotten the Apprentice, 1- he wouldnt hav been nearly as well known 2- he wouldve been bankrupt

[SocialDemocrat61]

44. Don't know

But have 3 years to decide

[allegorical oracle]

45. Geesh that was a far more difficult question once the thoughts started coming. So many

of the people everybody has suggested are impressive.

Pete impressed me back when he was Mayor Pete. But many of my Dem friends had the opposite reaction -- and it wasn't about his personal choices. Tim Walz is absolutely adorable and definitely think Repugs would also vote for him -- they liked him in 2024. Pritzker is smart and gutsy.

Personally, if not for his being an Independent and of a "certain" age, Bernie with Tim would make a great ticket. Repugs told me repeatedly that they would vote for Bernie and said the same of Tim.

Newsom is attractive, articulate, and likely would attract younger voters. But for me, there's a lingering doubt that he can be trusted. Maybe it's his having been married to Kimberly Guilfoyle.

Have serious qualms that after TSF's wrecking ball has finished, our politics will return to the Obama era. It will take time for women to hack their way through the anti-feminist thicket, again, to presidential-level candidacies. Likely best to focus on two white guys while the nation licks its wounds and rebuilds.

[LAS14]

56. " But many of my Dem friends had the opposite reaction -- and it wasn't about his personal choices. "

What were their reasons? I don't recall bumping into any Dems that actually didn't like Buttigieg, although many might not think he's electable.

[allegorical oracle]

81. Oh, they mentioned that he was "stiff" and "was only a mayor," one even said he was "too nice". To

my knowledge, most if not all of the people I spoke with didn't know that he is gay. Our conversations were before he was named to be Secretary of Transportation. These people weren't Dems, they were Repugs. They're the same ones who liked Bernie and in later conversations complimented Tim Walz.

[Haggard Celine]

109. I really like Tim Walz.

It's gotten to where I ask myself if the person I'm voting for is a good person. That's one thing Trump has taught me -- integrity matters. I'm going to expect candidates I support to be decent human beings. It's obvious these days that we can't take any of that for granted.

[Mountainguy]

46. Of those two....Newsom

But I have others ahead of both.

[beaglelover]

47. Neither can win a national election, IMO. But I'll vote for either one of them if they win the primary.

[Rob H.]

48. Buttigieg by a country mile

Newsom hosted Charlie Kirk and Steve Bannon on his podcast and platforming either of them--much less both of them--is immediately disqualifying for me. His statements about transgender athletes didn't help, either.

[sop]

49. Much as I respect and admire Buttigieg, Republicans would wage a very, very ugly campaign against him.

Still, I would prefer him over Newsom. Gavin's probably more "electable," but he seems a bit slippery. I'll support and vote for anyone Democrats nominate.

[Nikossitti]

50. Seriously?

Buttegieg by a mile.

[ratchiweenie]

52. Walz

[Ocelot II]

53. If the choice were only one or the other I'd go with Buttigieg.

There's something oily about Newsom that I don't quite trust, although I'd certainly take him over any GOPer and a fair number of Democrats. Buttigieg is the best, most rational explainer of complex ideas than any politician I've ever encountered, and he can deliver a message better than just about anyone. I do worry, though, that this country has become so retrograde that too many people wouldn't vote for a gay man, whatever stellar qualities he might have, just like they refused to vote for an accomplished woman vs. a 34x convicted felon and adjudicated fraudster, defamer and sex offender.

[Bettie]

54. Honestly, I don't think either of them

is electable.

They will paint Newsom as a coastal elite and "too slick". Even him becoming buddies with a bunch of right wing bro-casters won't help.

Pete is awesome in every way, but every single ad will be about him being gay and how much that harms marriage....though, I've never had a single person be able to give me an answer as to how any marriage that they are not in can possibly harm them. They just yammer on about 'god' and their holy book that they ignore 90% of the time.

I just think our country is filled with small minded idiots who can't see beyond their own hate. They adore that orange asshole because he encourages them to be filled with hate, tells them that it's good. He's their god now., because he told them to become the very worst versions of themselves.

[krawhitham]

55. I'll never vote for Newsom

I do like Pete though

[Scrivener7]

119. I'd vote for a fire hydrant if it was running against a republican.

[Sun-Moon]

57. I'd vote for Pete Buttigieg!

[Demsrule86]

59. I am not particularly happy with Newsome...I hope we have others who will run...

and I like Pete better. But if I had to pick one- I would pick Newsome as I believe he is more electable in our currently bigoted society and we can't survive another GOP win as a country. I only hope we survive this Trump.

[AZSkiffyGeek]

60. Pete

I prefer candidates who don't pander to MAGATs and transphobes.

[slumcamper]

61. The Rhode's Scholar. PETE.

[Ars Longa]

63. Neither ,- Love Pete Buttigieg-- But, LGBTQ/Marriage stuff, might be

too big an uphill push..'love to be wrong.

Newsome has some definite plusses, good debater ect.., But non-midwest image, wildfire mngmt,
strangely getting chummy with Nazi's Bannon, Kirk ect.. he would be way down my list.

I'm more looking to Murphy, Walz, Whitehouse, Swallwell, AOC and others.

[Efilroft Sul]

65. Pete. He's smart AF.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

66. A person w/high emotional intelligence like Clinton who can win over "regular people."

Clinton was extremely intelligent but knew how to appeal to “regular people.” He was able to show empathy. He had the talent of how to speak without sounding like an egghead.

[Dan]

67. I support Batman, it is apparent that Americans want to be entertained.

[LAS14]

75. Sadly, too true. Democracy is in trouble for just that reason. nt

[markodochartaigh]

91. I think that the Joker

would have a better chance being elected.

[EdmondDantes_]

68. Of those two, Buttigieg by a wide margin

Newsom doesn't do much for me. I do worry that Buttigieg is relatively inexperienced in terms of politics, but I like that he is very smart and had specific plans in his 2020 run. The biggest challenge facing the next president will be rebuilding our government and I have more faith in Buttigieg to do that than I do in Newsom.

[BannonsLiver]

69. Newsom

Newsom won't win the Activist/DU primary, which is fine. No loss for him. But I don't think Pete could get elected, especially after what we saw last fall. That being said, I'm more interested at this point in what the rest of the field will look like rather than locking on one candidate this early.

[radius777]

70. We need a macho ticket, Mark Kelly, Wes Moore,

Seth Moulton - who comes across as centrist on the border and crime - like Bill/Obama - but to the left on Gaza, Big Tech and consumer protection - like Liz/Bernie.

We won't win in this environment with a woman, gay man or non-Christian... sucks but the swing voters and marginal voters that swing these presidential elections simply will invent 'reasons' why they won't vote for such a person even if qualified.

[Callie1979]

80. Not a bad idea. And you're right about "environment"

What also needs to be discussed is throwing so much weight to what many consider "fringe" issues that even many Democrats aren't big on.

[milestogo]

88. We need a BRAINS ticket. Buttigieg/Maddow.

[EndlessWire]

92. Just for the record, Pete served.

And he doesn't swish. I have complete confidence that he can kick butt if needed. Plus, people overseas will like his honest, analytical approach to problems. I think we need a complete do over, and Newsom isn't it.

So, so far: Hillary, Female, over qualified, really, NO. Kamala, Black, Female, highly qualified, NO. And Pete? Male, smartest person in the room, experienced, qualified, but gay, so, NO.

I'm tired of us not choosing the people who can truly fix problems for the People. Voters are so dumb.

[Vinca]

71. I love Pete, but I don't know that either is electable. I'm at a loss. I really, really, really wanted to see a woman

elected in my lifetime, but given how it's gone so far, I don't know if we risk it again right away. Mark Kelly hit me out of the blue the other day, but I don't know. Whoever we run they have to be willing to throw kumbaya out the window and hit them hard.

[elocs]

73. Newsom because getting elected is much more important to me

than the risk of running a gay male because frankly there are millions of even Democrats who appear not to want to vote for a woman of color.
Frankly, I would be surprised if we had free, fair, and not rigged elections in '26 much less in '28.

[pinkstarburst]

74. Buttigieg every day of the week and twice on Sundays

Pete is the smartest mind in our party, IMHO, but there are lots of other good choices who aren't out there platforming right wing Nazis.

I will not be voting for Newsom. We can do better than a right wing Nazi apologist. AOC. Elizabeth Warren. Kelly. Walz. If I can't have Mayor Pete, lots of other good choices and I am going to reject right now this idea that it has to be straight white men from here on out.

I think our big problem is that our party is low energy and doesn't show up on election day. THAT is our problem we need to fix. That is what got Kamala. The republicans showed up in rabid crazy droves and voted for Trump. I think they would have shown up for Bernie (he had that energy) and I think we need to pick someone who energizes us and that means a full primary process where the party chooses who gives them hope. Maybe that's Pete. Maybe it's AOC or Warren. Maybe it's Walz or Kelly. Too early to know.

But I reject the idea that our only choices are going to be straight white men and I think that our democratic voters are going to be unenthused and stay home if our only choices are "oh, ho hum, well, we put Gavin Newsom on the ticket because we had no better options than to choose from the mediocre straight white men."

We can do better.

[Callie1979]

76. Shapiro.

[CincyDem]

79. Beshear/Whitmer...either order. n/t

[gblady]

82. Pete

Nt

[Wanderlust988]

83. I'm not caring anymore about "firsts". We need to win!!

I'm over the first gay president, first woman president, etc. We just need to find someone with charisma that can win people in every region. All I know is that our last 2 successful 2 term presidents were from Illinois and Arkansas. In the modern era, we don't elect anyone from California or Massachusetts.

I'm from KY so I love Gov. Beshear.

[EndlessWire]

95. Do you really think

that we'd vote for Pete just because he's gay?? As a "first?" I followed along with Pete doing his job, and he comes across as highly intelligent, industrious, patriotic, kind, problem solving, able to see the big picture, and very personable. He's articulate, quick on the uptake, and probably invincible on the debate stage.

[doc03]

84. Neither one.

[Mike Nelson]

85. Both are so...

...amazing, compared to what we have now! Interesting to bring them up before other likely candidates. I think Buttigieg and Newsom have something in common that will help them in a national election. The can sit down with an extreme right-winger and look good... even when they get no look at questions beforehand and have no control over editing and promotion. Another plus is coming after a disastrous Republican. This should help Buttigieg overcome the expected vicious attacks on character (sexuality). Still, Newsom - or ANYBODY - will get the same attacks. I would happily vote for either of these candidates!

[milestogo]

87. Seriously? Buttigieg, of course.

[aocommunalpunch]

89. Tim Walz n/t

[Voltaire2]

90. Lean 180 degrees at Buttigieg.

Redacted is redacted and consequently redacted.

[anamnua]

93. Let's get real

Next time we can't afford to take any chances. The American electorate being what it is, it has to be a centrist, straight, white, Christian man. Obama was an outlier. I wish it were otherwise but that's the realpolitik.

[EndlessWire]

99. Let's do get real.

Here's Pete visiting Ukraine with a shooting war in progress:

JD Vance, a possible candidate in 2028 (but not probable), said he watched Ukraine on TV. He has never been there.

I know it's petty, but Pete looks a bit like Zel, now a highly popular war President. If the election were held tomorrow, Pete could win! There are millions of Americans who support Ukraine, and HATE being aligned with Russia.

[SidDithers]

96. Mayor Pete. Hands down...nt

Sid

[Raine]

97. Definitely Newsom

but would prefer someone else not sure who but someone other then either of those two.

[PufPuf23]

98. Newsom has more chance to win but prefer Buttigieg.

Don't think the hapless American voters would elect Buttigieg.

I have been a California voter for over 50 years save 4 years voted in Oregon back in 90s.

Been a voter for Newsom in primaries and general elections each opportunity.

That said, perception of Newsom has dimmed over time. Issue based, not listening, reading nor watching media.

Would vote for Newsom should he be candidate.

[Demovictory9]

101. Newsom because he's my Governor

[MontanaFarmer]

102. Whitmer.

[Deep State Witch]

103. Newsom/Buttigieg '28

I love Secretary Pete, but I don't think that people are ready for a gay President. Even one as competent and (how should I put this without being offensive?) non-flamboyant as Pete is.

[valleyrogue]

104. Neither. Neither could get elected president. n/t

[Scrivener7]

105. Walz is really beginning to be a hero. I'd happily vote for him.

[ObamaKerryDem]

106. Buttigieg. N/t

[ZRB]

108. Newsom

We need to stop trying to have the "first ___ President."

[H2O Man]

110. Newsom.

While I hope that neither is our candidate, I think Newsom would have a chance of winning.

[Melon]

112. Neither....hoping Mark Cuban gets more into politics.

[flamingdem]

114. Shapiro

He was good on Real Time tonight. Might fit the bill.

[Polybius]

116. Gavin

Handsome and charismatic. That's all it takes to win, and we agree on most issues.

[Meowmee]

117. Neither can win now imo

We need someone who can win. I don’t see anybody yet, I’m waiting. that’s assuming we even have a real election again in the general election or even in the midterms.

[DiamondShark]

118. Are these the only 2 choices 3.75 years from the next Presidential election?