Here is the question we really need to consider:

[hedgehog]

It's nice to know that most people would prefer Hillary Clinton over Jeb Bush. Bur how many people are excited enough about Hillary Clinton to drag themselves over to the polls and vote? This question becomes more important in light of Republican moves to make voting more difficult.

I have long thought that Al Gore's defeat owed more to this factor than Ralph Nader or the theft of Florida. If more people had gone out and voted, none of that would have mattered.

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

1. Our party's worst candidate would still be orders of magnitude better than the best GOP candidate.

I think the more obvious the agenda of the right is, the more hate and intolerance
and outright insanity shown, the more likely people will go "oh my god" and vote...

Our party's worst candidate would still be orders of magnitude better than the best GOP candidate.

[JoePhilly]

9. +1

[leftofcool]

2. Dems will flock to vote for Hillary

There will be Republican women who will vote for Hillary.

[upaloopa]

3. You can vote against the repub as well as vote for the

Dem.
Not voting is as much a choice as voting for or against a candidate.
Al Gore won the popular vote and if it had not been for SCOTUS he would have won the electoral vote also.

[guillaumeb]

4. but Hedgehog is correct

the answer to low voter turnout is simple.

Fight any voter suppression,
educate the voters,
vote for the best available candidate as opposed to waiting for the liberal Messiah.

It would help if the Democrats ran as an alternative to the GOP, not as "almost as tough" as the GOP.

[think]

6. Voter education is woefully needed. Depressingly so. /nt

[think]

5. Issues matter. Whoever the Democratic nominee is they need to have a rock solid platform

That's a big reason I like Bernie Sanders. He lays out much of his platform here:

https://berniesanders.com/issues/

He's very open and candid about what he considers important issues and the way forward.

This is the kind of leadership that I'm looking forward to in our next president whoever that may be. Someone who isn't hedging & isn't trying to appeal to the right voters. Someone who isn't afraid to put their platform out and stand by it.

[blkmusclmachine]

7. 2 blank ballots here in Texas, if HRC is the nominee. But we'll vote downballot, not that it will

actually matter/count for anything here in Tarrant County...

NOT Ready For Hillary 2016

[One of the 99]

8. I know a lot of young women who love Hillary

and can't wait for the opportunity to vote for her.

As far as the 2000 election, it had an over 54% turnout which was one of the highest at that time. I really which Nader supporters take responsibility for the results of their vote in 2000 instead of constantly coming up with these pathetic excuses.

[lunatica]

10. For the millionth time, Al Gore won Florida.

But I guess he could only win if he won by millions more people going out to vote. Simply winning isn't really winning.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

11. Here is another question to consider:

What is Bernie Sanders or Elizabeth Warren going to get done if Bonehead and Turtle are still in charge of Congress? Any Democrat we get elected will be fine with me as there is roughly six degrees of separation among all of them and they are all miles apart from any Republican we know (or think) is running in 2016. I think that we need to invest more energy and resources in electing a Congress favorable to/capable of enacting progressive policies. As far as people dragging themselves to the polls, I think that many people will be excited about being able to vote for a very capable and respected Democratic woman for POTUS. Asking this question always smacks of this idea that politicians need to dangle shiny things in front of the public to get them to vote for them. I don't think that it's quite like that. For me, I'm voting my best interests and my best interests (no, I'm not part of the 1%) are going to be best represented by a Democrat and if there is anybody able and willing to fight the Republicans/Right-Wingers and has the broad appeal to win it's Hillary.

[hedgehog]

14. I agree with you that we need to take back both the Senate and the House

in a big way to get anything done.

Unfortunately, your post suggests to me another question that needs answered: how many people will haul themselves out of their recliners just to go out and vote against Hillary? We have to remember that there is a lot of hatred focused on her.

[Corey_Baker08]

12. Well Over 18 Million People Voted For Hillary In The 2008 Primary Alone...

Americans love to make history just as we did in 2008. If Hillary Clinton is our Nominee I don't think the excitability factor will be an issue...

Regardless of party affiliation women believe (and rightfully so) that it is long past time that we have a Female President Of The United States.

Should HRC become the nominee of the Democratic Party I believe that she will have the support of women across the political spectrum. Independents & those who identify themselves as Independents especially would vote for Hillary who would have otherwise stayed home or voted Republican.

Americans get excited about having the opportunity to not only make history, but to be a part of history by casting their vote for the first Female President Of The United States.

Also remember in 2008 John McCain and the Republican party had one hell of an enthusiasm gap within their own party, he was trailing by double digits until he announced Sarah Palin as his Vice President and suddenly the enthusiasm gap closed and McCain's Campaign saw their poll numbers jump.

Why did their poll numbers jump & why was an enthusiasm gap non existent after announcing Sarah Palin as his pick for Vice President? Well it sure as hell wasn't because she was so smart or a great public speaker and it definitely wasn't because she was a well liked or experienced candidate...

It was because those in the Republican Party knew that Americans loved to make history so by nominating a female as VP many more Republicans especially women and many more Independents again especially women flocked to support a campaign that they otherwise wasn't very excited about at first...

[hedgehog]

13. That's a proposition that's worth some serious polling.

[LiberalElite]

15. I'll drag myself over to the polls and vote for H I suppose -

but that's just me. I believe voting is an imperative. People died for the right to vote and you just don't not do it. However, many many Americans are just not involved or interested in politics. If a candidate doesn't move them they will not show up. Aside from H being a woman, I don't see them getting excited. Now, maybe if H could be disguised as a Kardashian....