Iowa Democrats Say They Want Generational Change

[brooklynite]

Source: Wall Street Journal

ADEL, Iowa—Democratic leaders in Iowa, the starting line for the party’s wide-open 2020 presidential contest, are hungry for a young standard-bearer who will usher in generational change, which is erecting a potential roadblock for the three best-known prospective contenders for the nomination.

There is little consensus about which issues should define the next nominee. A Wall Street Journal survey of Democratic chairmen and chairwomen in the state’s 99 counties also found support for a contender who can appeal to the ethnically and racially diverse voters who helped power the party’s midterm election victories.

Of the 76 Democratic county party leaders who responded to the survey, 43 said they would prefer a young candidate. They said they want a fresh face and expressed interest in potential candidates who haven’t run for president before. They yearn for a nominee with the energizing charisma of President Barack Obama to counter President Donald Trump’s rowdy base. Most said gender wouldn’t be a determining factor.

Those are hurdles that could trip up three of the best-known potential candidates, former Vice President Joe Biden, and Sens. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, each of whom will be at least 70 years old when Iowa Democrats caucus in February 2020.

Read more: https://www.wsj.com/articles/iowa-democrats-say-they-want-generational-change-1543833001

[George II]

1. Good luck with that. They have a whopping 3.1 million people. Sorry, you're (Iowa) not going to...

...tell the other 322 million people what "we" want.

Once the Iowa caucus is over and done with in January, there's a lot more going on into determining our candidate.

[Renew Deal]

3. The date is Feb. 3, 2020

https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2018/08/25/iowa-caucus-date-2020-february-unity-reform-commission-dnc-democratic-national-committee/1099570002/

[George II]

8. My point is that one of the smallest states with one of the least diverse populations...

....should not be pretending to speak for Democrats across the country.

Within 4 weeks of the Iowa caucus more than 11 million Democrats will choose 1800 delegates, almost half the Democratic pledged delegates.

[Renew Deal]

9. I know

I just checked the date since you mentioned it.

I have a feeling that the views on age are representative of the party overall.

[karynnj]

11. Of course they will not decide the nominee, BUT they will have a major impact in vetting the choice

One advantage of Iowa and NH being small is that anyone interested will be able to meet the candidates face to face. Retail politics. Iowa has traditionally derailed some nominees, but it also has given some nominees an unlikely chance to be heard and seen.

Not to mention - Iowa and NH are both purple states - with Iowa often red violet and NH blue violet. It is in the larger purple states that the election is run. No Democrat can win the nomination if they are not liked and respected in the big Democratic states and cities. Not to mention, immediately after Iowa and NH, in past years - at least since 1992, the election then headed to Southern states that we NEVER win in the general election. I would prefer that rather than a mix of SW and S, it was a mix of rust belt and SW.

[George II]

14. My concern is that a small, vocal group will act like they represent....

...the Democratic Party as a whole and wind up doing more harm than good.

That's why I wish we had all primaries, no caucuses (where delegates are subject to badgering and bullying) and I wish we had all CLOSED primaries so we don't have republicans participating in choosing our candidate.

As we say, "been there, done that...."

[still_one]

26. +++++++++++++++++++++

[Yosemito]

2. Encourage millennials to vote then

And hope they choose a young candidate, which is not guaranteed.

[redstatebluegirl]

17. Encourage them to give up their free time to canvas for the party.

I saw zero millennials when I worked the last election.

[Renew Deal]

4. That's no surprise

Someone older than Trump doesn't contrast well. I think there is a good opportunity out there for the Beto's and Harris's of the world.

[Auggie]

5. Yep. Harris is especially poised.

[True Blue American]

6. Brown/Beto?

Read this on the Hill this morning.

https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/419331-orourke-brown-shake-up-volatile-democratic-horse-race?userid=351258

Brown for workers rights, Beto in training?

[Renew Deal]

7. Or Beto/Brown

Beto would be the young visionary leader. Brown would be the experienced steady hand.

I have some concerns about Brown for president. I'm not convinced he's suited for that kind of spotlight.

[True Blue American]

10. Brown is my Senator

I really do not want to lose him. DeWine would probably appoint a Gym Jordan.

But Beto does not have any experience. That would go against him.

[Renew Deal]

12. Beto has 12 years experience (10 more than Trump)

6 years in congress and 6 years in city council. Also voters don't seem to care much about experience.

[Johnyawl]

21. How much experience did Obama have in 2008?

He'd been in the Senate 4 years. All the rest of his experience was at the local level. And Obama made the best choice for VP of any candidate in my lifetime.

Beto would need to do the same. Reach out to an experienced and knowledgeable elder statesmen, and then lean on him for the first few years.

[still_one]

28. I like.Brown and his views, and this is superficial, but I think his voice doesn't project the

energy we need in a presidential nominee.

I also agree his Senate seat is critical to keep in 2020. I also suspect Kasich will challenge trump for the Republican nominatiion, and I know many here believe he doesn’t stand a chance against trump, I disagree, with 40% of republicans not happy at all with trump, I think he does. I also think Romney will try again against trump for the nomination in 2020

[No Vested Interest]

22. Beto/Landrieu for me.

Sherrod Brown is my senator also.
He does great work for Ohio and for the American people.
He'll be available either as a Senate leader or a very able Cabinet member.

[SergeStorms]

13. The next President of the United States...

will be in the unusual position of putting our government back together, and our position in the world back on solid footing. I'm not sure that can be trusted to a relative political neophyte. In my opinion, a seasoned federal government servant who has the ability to see how much damage Trump has done, and knows - at least in a rudimentary sense - how to put our government back together again, is needed. A younger, popular vice-president would the be the ideal choice to carry on the vision of the Democratic party, but only after our government has been repaired - both literally and figuratively - from the devastating destruction rained upon our country by Donald Trump and the complicit republican party.

This will not be a normal transition of power. Just my two cents.

[not fooled]

16. Agree completely

Excellent points and well put.

Experience at the top of the ticket who can not only repair the country but train the up-and-coming VP.

[pazzyanne]

19. Could not agree more with you.

My fear is that the move to younger people has the same implications for our country as the move to remove Nancy Pelosi from the House Speakership does. We will be in the fight of our lives to restore our country to greatness, and we need experienced people to guide the way. I would not be opposed to an older presidential candidate backed by a younger vice presidential candidate. Then select a seasoned, experienced cabinet where all members are experts in their fields. We will need all the help we can get to bring our country back from the brink, IMHO.

[True Blue American]

24. Most of us are just guessing now.

There will be time to decide. Who knows what 2 years will bring?

[pazzyanne]

36. That is true!

[True Blue American]

23. I agree on that.

Worse than what Obama had to do after Bush, Jr.

Then,of course there was Clinton after Reagan/Bush.

[SergeStorms]

31. At least...

all of those you listed acted like presidents, and not a petulant seven year old. They may not have executed the duties of the office honorably, honestly or skillfully, but they didn't leave the the entire government in shambles. Why anyone would want the office after Trump's "performance" boggles my mind. Maybe they haven't quite thought through the magnitude of the task that awaits them. The next president is going to have a Herculean task in front of them.

[elleng]

33. Right. Thanks.

[No Vested Interest]

37. The successes of Macron and Trudeau would indicate otherwise.

Experience can be hired.
That's what Cabinets are for.
This old-timer believes we badly need the energy and optimism of youth.

[KPN]

15. Well, while I might in this particular survey respond as the majority apparently did, this wasn't

a poll. Take a look at polls re: current expected/potential crop of candidates. They say something different.

[Renew Deal]

18. The only polls out there are missing a bunch of potential candidates including one that is running

One didn’t list Biden, but did list Cuomo.

I think there are around 32 candidates right now. Good luck polling that.

[KPN]

25. Here's one.

[link:https://upload.democraticunderground.com/100211506172|

[Renew Deal]

27. Yes, good timing

I was talking about Iowa polls, but I think this is where things are right now. I don't want to say that Biden is Lieberman 2004, but things will change.

[KPN]

32. Yep, i'm sure they will "Renew Deal" --

I like that!

[dembotoz]

20. and i wanna win powerball

trouble with elections you can only vote for those who run

[stonecutter357]

29. More shit stirring !

[BigDemVoter]

30. I don't give a flying FUCK what Iowa wants. . . .

It is mostly Repig, and I suspect that the Dems there are more like traditional Repigs elsewhere. . . . .

[brooklynite]

35. Did you base that assumption on any actual data?

Here's who the "Traditional Repugs" have nominated in the past:

2016: Clinton
2008: Obama
2004: Kerry
2000: Gore
1992: Harkin
1988: Gephardt
1984: Mondale

[BlueWI]

34. Is generational change really that scary?

Is the tradition of the 70-80 year old politician so compelling that it should be encouraged at all costs? Why?

And we wonder why twenty something's don't vote in the same proportions. Look at the dismissing of younger voices all over this thread.

Should they just be quiet and enjoy their warming planet, mountains of national debt, and the fine administration of President Trump that we old people bequeathed to them?

Some of the most extraordinary people I know now in politics are under 40 and even under 30. They're sick of the business as usual politics and sorry excuses for losing winnable elections.

And guess what? They have many more years to live with our past failures. So kudos to younger candidates and people to kick start some election wins and better policies.

[crazycatlady]

38. Consider the demographics of this forum

They're mostly Boomers and older here.

[BlueWI]

39. True.

Although on a good day, older people want to see the younger generation have a better chance than they had. Not much of that sentiment on this site.

And I am 55.